THE PROBLEM OF EVIL

The Author

Habakkuk: one who embraces

Habakkuk was a contemporary of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zephaniah and was probably written around 605 BC.

Background and Timeline

Egypt (Approximately 1876 BC)

Genesis 46:27 “And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.”

The Exodus (approximately 1446 BC)

Exodus 16:3 “and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.””

The Judges (approximately 1406-1050 BC)

Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

The United Kingdom (approximately 1050-930 BC)

See 1 Kings 11:1-8...

The Kingdom Divided (approximately 930 BC)

See 1 Kings 11:9-13...

Because of Solomon’s disobedience, the kingdom was split in two after his death. His son Rehoboam ruled the Southern Kingdom (Judah), while Jeroboam ruled the Northern Kingdom (Israel).

The Captivity of the Northern Kingdom (722 BC)

After 19 wicked kings, Assyria conquered Israel and led them away captive (722 BC), in fulfillment of God’s prophecy of judgment on them.

2 Kings 17:6-23...

Downward Spiral of the Southern Kingdom (930-586 BC)

Discuss Ahaz (Syria and Israel came against him), Hezekiah, Manasseh, and Amon

2 Kings 21:9 “But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.”

Israel’s defeat and captivity, should have been a wake-up call to Judah, but it was not. After this time of severe disobedience, Josiah became king and instituted major reforms throughout the nation (Roughly 100 years after the fall of Israel). Those reforms turned out to be superficial and short lived.

See Jeremiah 3:6-11...

Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim

After Josiah’s death, Israel quickly fell deeper and deeper into sin. Habakkuk prophesied during this time of apostasy. He was confused why the Lord was allowing all of this wickedness to go unchecked and unpunished. It seemed that the wicked were being blessed while the righteous were being cursed. In verses 1-4, he took his questions to the Lord.

Habakkuk’s Complaint

Why doesn’t the Lord do anything about the evil around us?

Jeremiah 12:1 “Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive?”

Job 21:7 “Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?” (see Psalm 94:3, Psalm 73:3, Malachi 3:15)

Genesis 18:25 “Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?””

Anchors For Our Soul

We need to remind ourselves of truth when we have questions and doubts.

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—”

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”