January 27, 2024, was International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, people around the world remember the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust during WWII. The horrors inflicted by evil men and women on human beings made in God’s image are absolutely sickening. And as we soberly remember those victims, many of us will naturally think of the ongoing horrors inflicted on the Jewish people in Israel today by the vile actions of Hamas—yes, evil continues. Sadly, the attack by Hamas and Israel’s response has only resulted in antisemitism rearing its ugly head across Western nations and elsewhere.

There is only one place we can go for the truth about what is unfolding here. It is to God’s Word. Ever since God established Israel as His nation over 3000 years ago to be a witness to the world it has been under attack. The real battle is spiritual with Satan and his demons using people to destroy God’s nation, the Jewish people. They did so almost 2000 years ago but God miraculously rebirthed the nation in 1948.

About the horror unfolding we always need to go to God’s Word for answers. Learn from Habbakuk.

“O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2–4)

Let me remind you of God’s answer to Habakkuk. He revealed to his prophet that, yes, God would judge his people (who were sinning greatly against him) by a horrifying invasion from the Babylonians but that God would also judge the Babylonians when their time came—they did not get away with any of their sin! They too were eventually judged. And Habakkuk ends with a message of great hope:

Habakkuk was probably written about 640–615 B.C., just before the fall of Assyria and the rise of Babylon (Chaldea). God used Assyria to punish Israel (722 B.C.); then he would use Babylon to punish Assyria and Judah. This prophecy would be fulfilled several decades after Habakkuk, in 586 B.C. The “theme question” of Habakkuk is, how can God use a wicked nation such as Babylon for his divine purpose? God judges all nations, said Habakkuk and even Babylon would eventually be judged (Babylon fell to Persia in 539). Though God’s ways are sometimes mysterious, the central message is simple: “The righteous shall live by his faith” (Habbakuk 2:4) while awaiting salvation. These words are quoted three times in the New Testament.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Gentiles). For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

“Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” Galatians:3:11

And finally, we need endurance but each one of God’s children was given the Holy Spirit when we repented and accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour (John 14:26, John 15:26, John 16:7-11). He is our counsellor, teacher, and comforter. He will enable us to persevere knowing that Jesus is coming back. The many prophecies about Jesus’ second coming are beginning to play out in our day so we know what is coming and can prepare accordingly to do the will of God so that we may receive our reward in Jesus’ coming Millennial Kingdom.

“For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For, “yet a little while and the coming one (Jesus) will come and will not delay, but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” Hebrews 10:36-38

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5