“What’s A-Goin’ On?”
There is a YouTuber in Texas I enjoy watching. He starts all his videos with the Texan-like expression of, “Hey y’all! What’s a-goin’ on?”
His videos are generally humorous. I too have been asking myself, “What’s a-goin’ on?” In contrast, my question is not so humorous.
Every day we see on the news and in social media the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, many of us look on with shock as our major cities are being disrupted and destroyed by riots, looting, and chaos. We’re watching a never-ending stream of news reports of shootings and crime related to social justice issues.
It can be very distressing to observe this all at once, and not just in the US, but globally. We’re also hearing of an alarming increase of suicides among all ages due to depression.
As I look at the events around me, I have to turn to the Lord and ask, “God, what are You doing? Don’t You see all that is going on? Why don’t you do something to stop this madness?”
Years ago, when I was in seminary, one of my professors gave an assignment of reading, observing, interpreting, and applying the book of Habakkuk. While reflecting on the current conditions of pandemic, riots, looting, killing, and anger, I thought back to this short little book. In the beginning the prophet asks the question:
How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but You do not listen?
Or cry out to You, “Violence!”
but You do not save?
Why do You make me look at injustice?
Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2-4 NIV)
Habakkuk’s questions were very similar to mine. He did not understand why the world around him was filled with such a lack of peace.
In the midst of difficult times, it may seem God is silent. However, the Lord did speak very clearly to Habakkuk. Using the rest of the book, the Lord tells Habakkuk He is preparing to bring judgment upon His people because of their sin. Judgment was to be in the form of an invasion by the Babylonians.
As I was thinking of Habakkuk, I read an interesting passage in my quiet time. In Isaiah 45, God announces that He will be using a pagan king, Cyrus, to do His will even though Cyrus does not acknowledge Him (verse 4). As I continued reading, I observed verses 5-7:
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
apart from Me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
though you have not acknowledged Me,
so that from the rising of the sun
to the place of its setting
people may know there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
I bring prosperity and create disaster;
I, the Lord, do all these things. (emphasis mine)
The words concerning God bringing prosperity and creating disaster caught my attention. God brings disaster?
Could God be behind all the chaos and depression gripping every corner of the globe in our day? As I related that to Habakkuk, God spoke to my spirit as well.
Yes, it is true, the life which the entire world is experiencing now is very different from anything we have experienced in the past. The reality is we do not even know if the conditions will improve or worsen. Many are saying this is the new normal.
Pandemics, riots, lawlessness – the new normal? How am I to respond, especially knowing that God is in control and even “creates disaster”?
Habakkuk comes back to mind. In chapter 3 verses 17-19 of his book the prophet responds to God by saying,
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. (emphasis mine)
The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
He enables me to tread on the heights.
Habakkuk realized God is in control of all things, even the things that make us uncomfortable – and yes, even causing one to suffer. However, Habakkuk chose to respond in faith knowing all things eventually will result in God’s glory. Rather than being in a panic, Habakkuk chose to wait – even when things were bad. Notice the prophet said he would rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in God his Savior.
Could it be that the things we see today are the “. . . beginning of birth pains . . .” which Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24? If so, I really have something to rejoice in – my redemption draws near! Amen and amen!
Written by Winn, LIFE Staff