We read of the Lord in Habakkuk 1:13 which says, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?”

That verse is a little problematic when we compare it with Proverbs 15:3 which says, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”  This shows us that the Lord does indeed behold evil.  He sees everything.

Let’s read Habakkuk 1:13 from the NASB translation.  “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up Those more righteous than they?”  Many other translations agree with this interpretation.  It’s not that the Lord cannot look upon evil, for He sees everything.  However, He cannot, because of His purity, look upon evil favorable.  He cannot approve any act of sin or evil.  We often try to justify our sinful actions, but the Lord will NEVER approve of any sinful act, thought, or word. 

While the Lord will never approve of any sinful act, neither will he ever forsake His own.  Hebrews 13:5 tells us, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.”  This is a quote from Deuteronomy 31:6 which says, “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.”  In both the New and Old Testaments, the Lord assures us of His faithfulness.  David wrote in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” 

We have the words of the Lord Jesus in John 10:27-29, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” Those who are the Lord’s sheep are those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their savior.  To those, the Lord assures that we have eternal life and will never perish, and NO ONE is able to pluck us out of His hand.  On top of that, we are also in the Father’s hand with the same assurance that NO ONE is able to pluck us from His hand.  Believers are NEVER in the hands of Satan.  While it is possible to be led or influenced by Satan, we are eternally in the hands of the Lord, never to be plucked out!

We who are truly saved have the full assurance of the scriptures that we belong to the Lord, we are in His hand, and He will never forsake us.  Blessed assurance!  (426.4)