Encouraging words

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”   (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV)

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”    (Habakkuk 2:14 NIV)

All these words are recorded in the Bible. They were written by a man named Habakkuk over 2800 years ago and yet they are so relevant today. The first words summarise agricultural disaster, but conclude with Habakkuk’s determination to rejoice in God anyway.

It looks strange to begin with! Why is Habakkuk happy, despite such disaster?

The answer, I think, is in the verse from Habakkuk 2 which states God’s bottom line about the future of this earth. It will be covered in His glory. God is in control no matter how grim our circumstances may be.

And they certainly are grim as I write this blog. Not only is there war in a number of places around the globe, but the ‘N’ word is being used as a statement of fear. The fear is how an escalation in Ukraine or the Middle East could lead to a nuclear holocaust.

But God says in His Bible that His glory will cover the earth and there will be people on earth to enjoy it! Doesn’t allow for a nuclear holocaust to wipe out the human race, does it?

The details of all the good things that are going to happen are in the Bible. In times of trouble it’s an even more compelling read.