How can we reconcile Habakkuk 1:13 with God's sovereignty over evil? Setting the Scene Habakkuk looks at Babylon’s rising power and wrestles with what seems like a contradiction: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do You tolerate the treacherous? Why are You silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” How can a God who is too pure even to look at evil also rule over a world where evil not only exists but sometimes appears to triumph? God’s Unblemished Holiness • Scripture repeatedly affirms that God’s character is light with “no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). • He “cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone” (James 1:13). • Because He is holy, He must judge sin—Habakkuk knows this and is troubled that judgment seems delayed. Sovereign Over All, Yet Not the Author of Sin • Psalm 103:19: “The LORD has established His throne in heaven; His kingdom rules over all.” Nothing falls outside that rule, including the actions of Babylon. • Isaiah 45:7 states God “creates calamity” in the sense that He governs even disasters; yet Deuteronomy 32:4 insists “all His ways are justice.” • Scripture distinguishes God’s sovereign will from His moral character. He ordains all that happens, but He does not commit or approve of evil deeds. How God Uses Evil Without Being Evil 1. Secondary causes • God often works through human choices. Babylon’s violence flowed from its own wicked hearts, yet God employed it as an instrument of discipline for Judah (Habakkuk 1:6). 2. Restraining boundaries • He sets limits: “For I will raise up the Chaldeans” (Habakkuk 1:6) but later “I am against you” (Habakkuk 2:8). Evil serves His purpose only as far as He allows. 3. Redemptive outcomes • Joseph to his brothers: “You intended evil against me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20). • The cross: “This Man… you nailed to a cross by the hands of the lawless” (Acts 2:23). Human sin, divinely foreknown and decreed, became the means of salvation. 4. Ultimate justice • Habakkuk 2 announces five “woes” against Babylon. God’s silence is temporary; judgment is sure. • Romans 12:19 reminds believers to leave room for God’s wrath—justice delayed is not justice denied. Reconciling the Tension • God’s holiness means He never delights in evil. • God’s sovereignty means He can direct even evil actions toward righteous ends without compromising His character. • What appears as divine “toleration” is often purposeful patience (2 Peter 3:9), giving space for repentance or for evil to ripen for judgment. • Habakkuk’s lament is answered by God’s assurance: “The righteous will live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Trust in the holy, sovereign Lord bridges the gap between what we see and what He is accomplishing. Living It Out • Rest in God’s flawless purity—no injustice will slip through His hands. • Trust His timing—He may use dark circumstances now to shine greater light later. • Stand firm in faith—like Habakkuk, bring your questions to God, then wait for His revealed answer. • Look to the cross—the ultimate proof that God can employ the worst evil for the greatest good. Key Takeaways • God is too pure to approve evil, yet fully sovereign over it. • Evil operates by God’s permission, never outside His control. • He bends all events—even wicked ones—toward His just and redemptive purposes. |
    |