Memory Verse
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14

Lesson
How much time do you spend waiting? Think about it. Waiting for a traffic light to turn green, waiting at the doctor’s office, waiting at the drive-thru, waiting for a phone call, waiting for a birthday, waiting on someone else.

The fact is, we spend a lot of our time waiting. Why do we wait? We know something is coming. A major factor in waiting is faith—“the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen” (Heb. 11:1). This is precisely what the prophet Habakkuk addressed. Habakkuk was a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah, living in Judah shortly before it was taken into captivity. He found himself in a period of waiting, first for judgment and then for revival.

All around him, people were oppressed and violence escalated. The Book of Habakkuk records the prophet’s dialogue with the Lord. “How long, Lord, must I call for help?” Habakkuk asked. “Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?”

God answered. He was going to raise up the Babylonians, and they would hold captive the people of Judah.

Habakkuk prayed again. Judah deserved to be punished, but the Babylonians were even more wicked than Judah; how could God, in essence, bless them?

God answered. The Babylonian captivity would not last forever. After some time, God was going to rescue His people and punish the Babylonians.

As you talk with your kids about the Bible story this week, remind them that God’s people waited to be delivered from captivity, and those who are in Christ are waiting for the fulfillment of Christ’s return. Habakkuk lived at a time when evil seemed to be everywhere. By faith, he trusted God's promise that God would deliver His people. Injustice, violence, and wickedness surround us today, but we can live by faith and trust that Jesus will return to make all things right. Until then, we live by faith. (See Heb. 10:35-38.) We can trust that God is sovereign over the future, so “though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit on the vines … yet I will celebrate in the LORD; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!” (Hab. 3:17-18).

Family Discussion Starters
What questions do you want God to answer?
Do you agree with Habakkuk's words in Habakkuk 3:17-18?  Why or why not?
Why can we have patience, faith, and joy in a world broken by sin?