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Write the vision and make it plain

I have often heard this quoted as is and used to encourage others to write down the goals and desires they envision for their life. It may even be used as the theme for vision board parties. Although it is beneficial to have goals and write them down, this verse, within context, means a bit more to me. The entire book of Habakkuk and the context surrounding this verse reveal characteristics of God and several valuable lessons. Let's explore!

Back story:

Habakkuk is three chapters long located snugly in the OT between Nahum and Zephaniah. Habakkuk (Hab for short) was a prophet and this book depicts a conversation between him and God. It is a great reflection on how great of a relationship we can have with God with open, honest, and respectful communication. 

At that point in time, the people of Judah had been acting up and their sin was running rampant. Hab was deeply disturbed by the things he was witnessing all around him: oppression, destruction, violence, bribery, fighting, injustice, trickery, and wickedness. He was even more perplexed as to why God wasn't punishing all the evil and why his prayers weren't being heard or addressed. Hab is essentially asking the age-old questions that many still wonder now: "why do bad things happen to good people?", "why do people get away with doing bad things?", and "Does God hear me; is He listening?". Instead of allowing those thoughts to rumble around in his head, Hab goes straight to the Source to ask his questions and voice his honest feelings of frustration and confusion. What's awesome is that God allows it and responds to Hab. 

Hab's Inquiry (1:1-4):

God, how long do I have to cry out for help
    before you listen?
How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!”
    before you come to the rescue?
Why do you force me to look at evil,
    stare trouble in the face day after day?
Anarchy and violence break out,
    quarrels and fights all over the place.
Law and order fall to pieces.
    Justice is a joke.
The wicked have the righteous hamstrung
    and stand justice on its head.

The Lord replied (1:5-7),

“Look around at the nations;
    look and be amazed![a]
For I am doing something in your own day,
    something you wouldn’t believe
    even if someone told you about it.

I am raising up the Babylonians,[b]
    a cruel and violent people.
They will march across the world
    and conquer other lands.

They are notorious for their cruelty
    and do whatever they like.

Albeit grateful for the response, the Lord's response led to even more questions from Hab. Have you ever been in a similar situation where you ask the Lord something, and His answer is not what you were wanting or expecting. Have you ever been grateful that He heard you and responded, regardless of what the response was? Have you ever had more follow-up questions to your initial inquiry based on the response  He gave? Yes, yes, and absolutely yes!

My interpretation of this dialogue:

Hab: Ummm...Lord God. No disrespect but I keep praying to you to no avail. Things have gotten cazy down here. Those trying to live right need to be rescued from those who are committing all kinds of bad acts. It feels like we have no help and these people are getting away with murder. People all around are committing all kinds of horrible crimes with no consequences. Those doing good are suffering, meanwhile those doing bad are chillin' like a villain.

"Then the Lord answered me and said:

“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.