Surefooted

Surefooted

Q: Fill in the blank: “The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a _____, able to tread upon the heights.”

• a. mountain goat
• b. mountain lion
• c. deer

Habakkuk lived in dark times. The last kings of Judah were wicked men who rejected God and made life hard for the people. It was a time of fear, oppression, and godlessness. What Habakkuk saw troubled him. Because of that, he often asked God difficult questions: “Why is there evil in the world?” “Why do the wicked seem to win?” “Why don’t you listen when I cry for help?” “Why do you tolerate wrong?” Habakkuk couldn’t understand why God didn’t do something about the people’s wickedness.

God told Habakkuk he would use Babylon, a nation even more wicked than Judah, to punish Judah. Then Babylon would later be punished too. Habakkuk didn’t understand why God was doing these things, but he had to realize God would work everything out in his own time and trust him.

Habakkuk ended his book with a prayer of praise to God. He said, “The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” Habakkuk knew even in difficult times when God’s people were living as pagans, God would give him confidence to run like a deer. God looks out for those who are living for him and gives them his strength to endure. God gives his followers the confidence and surefootedness of a deer to navigate in this world.

For You

God offers you his strength and confidence to endure just as he provided it for Habakkuk. Habakkuk pictured himself as a surefooted deer when he was following God, and you can too.

Answer: c

The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.   Habakkuk 3:19

(The Whole Story: Habakkuk 3)