Take Your Best Shot at God

Arguing with God is a common theme in the scriptures. Often, it’s the most mature spiritual leaders who do the most arguing. We’ve been looking at Moses this week, but other examples abound. Today, let’s look at Habakkuk, the great prophet.

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. - Habakkuk 1:2-4

Habakkuk is tired of all the injustice in the world - it feels downright overwhelming. Do you ever feel that way?

Habakkuk decides not to keep all these thoughts and feelings bottled up, but instead to download the on God. It comes out as blame and accusation and these huge sweeping statements about justice ‘never’ prevailing. (Didn’t your mother teach you never to say ‘never’?)

The irony is that the entire book of Habakkuk ends up being a conversation between Habakkuk and God. Apparently, God doesn’t mind getting called on the carpet at all. God just jumps right in to the conversation over and over, regardless of how belligerant Habakkuk gets. It’s almost as if God wants it this way.

Are there things you might need to say directly to God right now that you’ve bottled up because they didn’t seem proper? Well, this seems like a great chance to take your best shot, so to speak. Perhaps that’s what God has been waiting for.