Russia is approaching 400,000 casualties in its conflict with Ukraine. Ukraine has not provided an estimate of its casualties, but it is assumed they are significantly high as well.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has resulted in over 20,000 deaths, with the toll continuing to increase.
The third woe reflects on such bloodshed, posing the question: Is it wise to build a city on the foundation of human bloodshed?
God identifies the root cause of bloodshed as iniquity, or human thoughts and actions that oppose God and His principles. He declares a woe upon such efforts, stating that this type of labor merely fuels the flames and exhausts those involved for no purpose.
Alas for you who build a town by bloodshed
and found a city on iniquity!”
Is it not from the Lord of hosts
that peoples labor only to feed the flames
and nations weary themselves for nothing?
But the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2.12-14
The anguished cries of victims of war highlight the utter worthlessness of trying to build a nation on bloodshed.
God, through Habakkuk, has an alternative: build your nation on the glory of the Lord. How can an individual build a life, or a nation construct its foundation, on the glory of the Lord?
The first step is to know that God is personal and seeks a personal relationship with humans. Starting our day by connecting with God and asking, “What is your assignment for my life today?” followed by obedient action, is how we begin to build our lives on the glory of the Lord.
A nation is comprised of individuals who make this choice.
When we pray in the Lord’s Prayer to deliver us from evil, we can include a request for God’s kingdom to come and for His glory to be worked out through us in our daily lives.
Frank Laubach believed that if a million people connected with God in the way that I have described, it would revolutionize what takes place in a nation or the world. Is this not a better substitute than trying to build a nation on bloodshed?
We can be one of those people who appeal to God for His work in the world and for His glory to be shown.
Money Talks
You are probably familiar with the expression “money talks.” The truth is, money doesn’t talk. It’s no more able to save a human than any other idol that has been worshipped throughout the ages.
An interesting fact about money is that both the poorest and the wealthiest individuals don’t think they have enough of it.
Habakkuk preaches the consistent message of God throughout the Bible concerning idols or substitutes for a loving and obedient relationship with Him.
What use is an idol
once its maker has shaped it—
a cast image, a teacher of lies?
For its maker trusts in what has been made,
though the product is only an idol that cannot speak!
Alas for you who say to the wood, “Wake up!”
to silent stone, “Rouse yourself!”
Can it teach?
See, it is gold and silver plated,
and there is no breath in it at all.
But the Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him! Habakkuk 2.18-20
In contrast to idols, God is in His holy temple, and the whole earth should bow in hushed silence before Him.
God knows that there is no power in armies, bombs, bribery, and oppression that can come close to His might. No power can resist Him.
From these verses in Habakkuk, we discover two courses of action. First, we should strive to align our behavior with the glory of the Lord.
Second, it’s important to wait in silence and patience, attentive to God’s workings, so that we may join Him in His activity.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 