“I’ve Got This, Kid; Keep Your Head Down”

“For the earth will be filled

With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

As the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV)

Habakkuk is an incredibly relevant book today, at least as current as the question, “Why does God allow bad things to happen to His people?” In the first chapter, the prophet essentially asks God that question, in reference to why the godless heathens have been allowed to run roughshod over the nation of Judah. God’s answer echoes the theme in Job, basically saying, “How can you, a mere man, know what I, the great I AM, am doing?”

Summarizing His response in verse 4 of chapter 2, God says,

“‘Behold the proud,

His soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith.’” (Habakkuk 2:4 NKJV)

That last phrase is quoted by both Paul (Romans 1:17) and the writer to the Hebrews (10:38) in their writings. “The just shall live by faith.”

By the time Habakkuk gets to verse 14 of chapter 2, he is in the midst of an oracle of God against those who have subjugated Judah. It basically proclaims that all the terrors they have inflicted on others will be foisted upon them in return. In the midst of these woes comes this seemingly curious proclamation of God’s glory. Where did that come from?

Habakkuk seems to be quoting Isaiah’s prophecy here, which proclaims,

“‘They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,

For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD

As the waters cover the sea.’” (Isaiah 11:9 NKJV)

This foretelling is describing the end times, when all will be made right and the Lion of Judah reigns over all. Through Habakkuk God cites this prior proclamation, essentially telling His people, “There will come a reckoning for those whose hands have been lifted up against My chosen ones. In that time, they will know that I am God and My glory will be revealed.”

The several times in scripture when God’s glory is revealed to His people were always awe-inspiring events. Perhaps none were as clearly expressed as when Moses asked to see God’s glory. Here is that exchange.

“And he said, ‘Please, show me Your glory.’

Then He said, ‘I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.’ But He said, ‘You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.’ And the LORD said, ‘Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock. So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.’” (Exodus 33:18-23 NKJV)

As I reread this Cleft of the Rock moment with Moses, the image that came to my mind was that of a hero, saving a young child, telling them to duck down to avoid harm. The child doesn’t need to see exactly what is done or know precisely the nature of it to know their salvation is at hand. Trust and obedience are the only prerequisites.

God’s glory is beyond our comprehension or ability to bear. It’s okay to ask Him, “Why?” so long as we follow that up with, “But I trust in You, Lord.” He wants us to talk to Him, even in complaint, because He cares for us. Have faith, little children; He is working to accomplish His purposes in us.

Related Scriptures

“‘And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD; for He hears your complaints against the LORD. But what are we, that you complain against us?’” (Exodus 16:7 NKJV)

“Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34 NKJV)

“And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD.” (I Kings 8:10-11 NKJV)

“Then the glory of the LORD went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the LORD’s glory.” (Ezekiel 10:4 NKJV)

“And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east.” (Ezekiel 43:4 NKJV)

“‘Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.’” (Matthew 24:30 NKJV)

“‘When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.’” (Matthew 25:31 NKJV)

“‘For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.’” (Luke 9:26 NKJV)

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (II Thessalonians 1:3-8 NKJV)

“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.” (II Thessalonians 2:8 NKJV)

“Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’” (Jude 1:14-15 NKJV)