His ways are not our Ways

 

 

Isaiah 55:8

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord."

 

God's knowledge and wisdom are far greater than man's. We are foolish to try to fit God into our mold-- to make his plans and purposes conform to yours. Instead, we must strive to fit into His plans.

 

 

**Habakkuk (one of God's prophets) was saddened by the corruption he saw all around him in Judah. In response, he poured out his heart to God. Today, injustice is still rampant, but don't let your concern cause you to doubt God or rebel against him. Instead, consider the message God gave Habakkuk and recognize God's long-range plans and purposes. Realize that God is doing right, even if you do not understand why he works as he does. **

 

Habakkuk 1:2-3

"O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention."

 

**When God spoke to Habakkuk, He told the prophet what he was up to: He was preparing the Babylonians to discipline Judah for its sin. But why do you think God waited so long to have this conversation with Habakkuk? Perhaps the answer is found at the end of verse 5. **

 

Habakkuk 1:5

"Behold, ye among the heathen, and regard, wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you."

 

 

Also note that in (Matthew 13:37-43), it speaks of the separation of evil from good. (Parable of the weeds). At the end of the world, angels will separate evil from good. There are true and false believers in church today, but we should be cautious in our judgments, because only Christ is qualified to make the final separation. There are things we may not understand, things we wish would change, and turn out another way, but in the end God is in control. Just like judgment, it is in His hands, not ours.

 

Matthew 13:37-43

"He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. who hath hears to hear, let him hear."

 

 

**Going back to Habakkuk....Sometimes God doesn't answer us right away for the same reason He didn't answer Habakkuk right away. He knows that message will be hard for us to believe, because it wont match our expectation. We aren't going to want to believe what he says, and we will use what we know about His character to convince ourselves that He can't really mean it. **

 

--God's words enlarged Habakkuk's perspective and strengthened his faith. Now he no longer pointed an accusatory finger at God or questions Him. By the time God had finished speaking, Habakkuk could face the future certain that God would not only continue to speak to Him but also continually act on his behalf. God was wise and good and just, and Habakkuk could trust Him completely. Habakkuk's final prayer is full of confidence, faith, and joy --

 

Habakkuk 3:17-18

"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be not herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation."

 

**Crop failure and the death of flocks would devastate Judah. But Habakkuk affirmed that even in times of starvation, he would still rejoice in the Lord. Habakkuk's feelings were not controlled by the events around Him but by faith in God's ability to give him strength. When nothing makes sense, and when troubles seem more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength. Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God. **

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil."