Behold and Believe: Recognizing Jehovah’s Work in Unlikely Ways

Daily Devotional on Habakkuk 1:5

“Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” — Habakkuk 1:5, UASV

The book of Habakkuk opens not with the prophet addressing the people, but with his lament before Jehovah. He cries out concerning the violence, injustice, and corruption that plagued Judah in the late seventh century B.C.E. The nation had drifted far from its covenant obligations, embracing idolatry, oppression, and lawlessness. Habakkuk’s cry is one of deep perplexity: “How long, O Jehovah, shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?” (Hab. 1:2). In response, Jehovah answers in verse 5 with words that shock the prophet’s expectations. The divine answer reveals that God was indeed at work—but in a way far beyond human comprehension.

Jehovah commands, “Look among the nations, and see.” This summons directs Habakkuk’s attention beyond Judah’s borders to the geopolitical movements surrounding the region. The prophet, concerned primarily with internal corruption, is now told to look outward—to the broader canvas of divine providence operating among the Gentile powers. Jehovah was orchestrating events among the nations to accomplish His purposes concerning His people. While Habakkuk saw moral decline within Judah, Jehovah saw the rise of Babylon, which He would use as an instrument of judgment.

The prophet is further commanded to “wonder and be astounded.” These imperatives express not mere surprise but utter astonishment. Jehovah’s coming work would overturn every human assumption about how He acts. The divine plan would be so unexpected that even if it were fully explained, it would still seem unbelievable. This statement captures the mysterious and sovereign nature of God’s dealings with humanity. His wisdom and justice often operate in ways that defy human reasoning, yet they always remain consistent with His holiness and purpose.

The core of Jehovah’s message is this: “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” The Hebrew expression emphasizes both the immediacy and the certainty of God’s action—He is doing the work even now. It is not merely a future plan but an unfolding reality. The “work” refers specifically to the raising up of the Chaldeans (Babylonians), whom Jehovah would use to execute judgment on Judah (Hab. 1:6). To Habakkuk, this seemed incomprehensible. How could a righteous God employ a cruel and idolatrous nation to punish His own people? Yet Jehovah’s sovereignty extends even over pagan empires. He can use the wicked as instruments of discipline while still holding them accountable for their evil.

This divine principle reveals an essential truth about God’s governance: He is always at work, even when His methods are beyond human understanding. To “look and see” means to view history through the lens of faith, recognizing that Jehovah’s purposes unfold through both mercy and judgment. Habakkuk expected God to act against Judah’s injustice by sending revival or reform; instead, God announced judgment through a foreign power. The prophet would soon learn that divine justice may come through unexpected means but always fulfills divine righteousness.

The phrase “you would not believe if told” expresses the deep tension between faith and perception. Human expectation often confines God’s activity to what seems logical or favorable. Yet Jehovah frequently works through what appears impossible or even contradictory to human wisdom. The same principle reappears throughout Scripture. When Joseph was sold into slavery, it seemed an unjust tragedy, yet God used it to preserve His covenant people. When Israel was exiled, it appeared that the covenant had failed, yet the exile purified the nation and prepared for restoration. Above all, when Christ was crucified, the world saw defeat, but Jehovah’s wisdom revealed it as the triumph of redemption.

Thus, Habakkuk 1:5 stands as a perpetual reminder that divine providence transcends human understanding. Jehovah does not always act according to human expectations, but He always acts according to His righteousness. The believer’s task is not to demand comprehension but to exercise faith. When the world seems chaotic, when wickedness prospers, and when prayers seem unanswered, Jehovah is still at work behind the scenes—accomplishing His will in ways that often astonish even the faithful.

This verse also teaches the importance of spiritual vigilance. “Look” and “see” are not passive commands; they require deliberate attention and discernment. The faithful must observe world events and moral conditions through a biblical lens, recognizing the hand of God guiding history toward His appointed ends. While unbelievers see only coincidence or human power, the believer perceives divine orchestration. The rise and fall of nations, the success or failure of leaders, and even personal hardships are all part of Jehovah’s grand design to fulfill His promises.

In spiritual warfare, this truth carries immense strength. Satan seeks to sow doubt in the hearts of believers when God’s actions seem incomprehensible. The Adversary whispers that delay means absence and that judgment means abandonment. But Jehovah’s word to Habakkuk refutes such lies: “I am doing a work.” Even when unseen, God is active. Even when His methods seem harsh, His motives remain pure. The believer who anchors faith in this truth cannot be shaken by appearances.

Moreover, Jehovah’s use of the Babylonians reveals His absolute sovereignty over all powers—both righteous and wicked. He raises up and brings down nations according to His will (Dan. 2:21). No empire, army, or ruler can operate outside His authority. This truth provides comfort in times of global turmoil and personal uncertainty. Though evil may appear to prevail, its success is temporary and limited by divine decree. Jehovah allows the wicked to rise only so far as their actions serve His redemptive purposes, after which He judges them for their arrogance.

The New Testament applies Habakkuk 1:5 to another context of divine astonishment: the proclamation of the gospel. In Acts 13:41, Paul quotes this verse in warning to those who reject the message of salvation in Christ. Just as ancient Judah refused to believe that God would work through Babylon, many in Paul’s day refused to believe that God would bring salvation through the crucified Messiah. Both acts of unbelief share the same root—failure to recognize Jehovah’s work when it contradicts human expectations. Thus, the verse stands as both a comfort and a warning: comfort to the faithful who trust in God’s unseen plan, and warning to the proud who dismiss His unexpected ways.

The call to “wonder and be astounded” therefore invites believers to cultivate reverent awe before the mysteries of divine providence. Faith does not demand to understand every detail; it rests in the assurance that Jehovah’s wisdom is perfect. His works are often unbelievable not because they are irrational but because they are infinitely wise and morally pure beyond human comprehension. The believer’s role is to watch, trust, and remain steadfast even when the path of divine justice seems dark.

For modern believers, this passage offers profound encouragement. In times of national decay, personal suffering, or apparent silence from Heaven, God’s answer remains the same: “I am doing a work in your days.” The faithful must resist the temptation to interpret God’s purposes through the lens of immediate circumstances. Instead, they must hold fast to His Word, knowing that He governs history and individual lives with perfect justice and mercy. Even when His actions confound human logic, they are moving history toward His ultimate goal—the establishment of His Kingdom under Christ.

This verse also reminds the believer that Jehovah’s works are not confined to ancient history. He continues to act within the nations today—raising up, humbling, correcting, and preparing the world for the fulfillment of His promises. His work may often seem hidden, but it is never absent. Those who live by faith, as Habakkuk would later affirm (Hab. 2:4), trust that every event, pleasant or painful, contributes to the accomplishment of divine purpose.

Finally, Habakkuk 1:5 confronts the believer with a choice: either to doubt because God’s ways seem incomprehensible or to trust because His character is unchanging. The same Jehovah who acted in Habakkuk’s day still governs all things in perfect wisdom. He does not need to conform His methods to human expectation. Instead, He calls His people to open their eyes, to “look among the nations,” and to recognize that His purposes are advancing even through events that appear disastrous. The one who believes this truth walks in peace amid chaos, in faith amid confusion, and in hope amid judgment.

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