Your eyes are too pure to look on evil, and You cannot tolerate wrongdoing. So why do You tolerate those who are treacherous? Why are You silent while one who is wicked swallows up one who more righteous than himself? Habakkuk 1:13 HCSB
As a former youth pastor, there were numerous times I talked with parents who were concerned about their wayward teenager. These teens were involved in drugs, alcohol, and other disobedient behaviors. I often counseled parents to implement “tough love”. They needed to keep loving their teen but they also needed to take strong steps to establish rules and regulations with their teen to achieve a change in behavior. It is not easy to use “tough love,” but sometimes it is necessary because it is what is best for the teenager.
God has sometimes had to exhibit “tough love” with His children, the people of Judah. Habakkuk could not believe that God would use an evil nation like the Babylonians to punish Judah. The Babylonians did not know they were being used by God to accomplish His will. God used this population to help bring the people of Judah back to Him. God may and will use whatever is necessary to bring His children back to Himself.
Challenge: When we deserve punishment and need direction in life, God may use pain and suffering to bring us back to Him. We should not complain about what instrument He uses to cause us to stop and think about our sin in order to seek forgiveness and restoration.