Living by Faith: 5 Lessons From the Book of Habakkuk a 5-Day Devotional by Dwan Dixonਨਮੂਨਾ

Lesson 2: Who Is God?

Growing up, I learned all the Bible stories—Noah and the Ark, Moses and the Israelites crossing the Red Sea, David and Goliath, and Daniel in the lion’s den, to name a few. I could recite them from memory. These Biblical accounts don’t just tell captivating stories; they reveal God’s attributes and His grand plan of redemption for humanity.

Understanding the nature and attributes of God is foundational to our faith. It’s not always the first thing we consider when grappling with tough questions like, "Why does evil exist?" or "Why doesn’t God stop evil?" However, recognizing who God is, remains essential to navigating these questions.

Scripture is rich with descriptions of God’s attributes. He is holy, good, self-existent, all-knowing, sovereign, creator, just, infinite, immutable, all-powerful, and eternal. Many of these characteristics are beyond our comprehension, but they offer us glimpses of His nature, helping us understand Him in human terms as best as possible.

The prophet Habakkuk demonstrated this foundational understanding in his second complaint to God: “O Lord my God, my Holy One, you who are eternal— surely you do not plan to wipe us out? O Lord, our Rock, you have sent these Babylonians to correct us, to punish us for our many sins. But you are pure and cannot stand the sight of evil. Will you wink at their treachery? Should you be silent while the wicked swallow up people more righteous than they?” Habakkuk‬ 1‬:12‬-13‬. (NLT‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬) Despite his questions, Habakkuk’s words reflected a deep understanding of the character of God. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Among God’s many attributes, His sovereignty is especially comforting. Before time began, God had a perfect plan. In a universe filled with imperfect people who have free will, God’s wisdom ensures that even human choices are woven into His divine purposes.

Like Habakkuk, we must remind ourselves of God’s character when faced with trials. His attributes shape our beliefs and influence how we live out our faith.

This knowledge equips us to find peace and relief, knowing that we have nothing to fear when we place our trust in Him.

Reflect

In Habakkuk 1:12-17, what attributes of God does Habakkuk recognize? Which of God's attributes have been most evident to you during your past trials?"