Habakkuk Lesson 3 God Responds to Habakkuk Habakkuk 1.5-11 BtP 5.3.2026

Learning to believe the unbelievable 1.5

Habakkuk 1:5 ESV

5 “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.

Habakkuk is called to look around at the “usual suspects.”

God tells him that this new work will be unbelievable. 

God uses the “unusable” 1.6-7

Habakkuk 1:6–7 ESV

6 For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. 7 They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves.

God “raises up” the Chaldeans for this task. 6a

God is not unclear about their character: 6b-7

Bitter & Hasty. 6b

Adventurous & Grasping 6c

Dreaded & fearsome 7a

Arrogant & Self-legitimating.7b

God Employs the unstoppable. 1.8-10

Habakkuk 1:8–10 ESV

8 Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. 9 They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. 10 At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it.

Swift. (Discusses their calvary and horses) 8

Violent and overwhelming. 9

They have a general feeling of invincibility and feel unthreatened. 10

Babylonia and the mentality of “Might makes right.” 11

Habakkuk 1:11 ESV

11 Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

Like a force of Nature 11a

Worship of their own might, power, and ability. (Idolatry of self). 11b