the Word of God, waiting, and faith

For still the vision awaits its appointed time;

it hastens to the end—it will not lie.

If it seems slow, wait for it;

it will surely come; it will not delay.

“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

but the righteous shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:3-4

Three important spiritual concepts are linked together in these two verses: vision, waiting on the Lord, and faith. It is good to understand how they are related to one another.

VISION. The vision specific to this concept harkens back to Habakkuk 1:17 where the prophet questions how long the cruel Chaldeans (whom God has revealed will destroy Israel) will be allowed to be brutal. It does not seem to square with God’s fairness and justice. God has already revealed to the nation through Habakkuk that a day will come when rebellious Israel would be mercilessly invaded and absorbed by Chaldea. But in answer to the prophet, God also sends a “vision” that the Chaldeans themselves would eventually be judged. So the vision is referring to two clear concepts: 1) the revelation only God can give. 2) the certainty of what God has revealed. The “vision” WILL come. It will not delay. God’s revealed truth is thus always fact… especially when it comes to prophecy.

WAITING. From our perspective sometimes the revealed truth seems slow to come to fruition. But God’s Word is not bound by the same rules of time as our day to day lives. An eternal God (Who has always been, is, and always will be… think about that for a few minutes and your mind will blow!) will surely do His purposes in His time. We must wait for His will to be done… His kingdom to come. It will. 

FAITH. We believe and trust God. The proud and the wicked dismiss both vision (God’s revelation in His Word) and waiting. To wait then as a believer in God is to patiently trust in His promises. How do we wait on the Lord? “…the righteous shall live by his faith.” Human pride rejects revelation, patience, and faith. But God’s redeemed people will treasure all three and are kept in their waiting by faith in God’s certain Word.