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Minor Prophets, Part 2: Babylonian Crisis

  1. Lesson One
    Nahum
    23 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  2. Lesson Two
    Zephaniah
    22 Activities
    |
    3 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Habakkuk
    19 Activities
    |
    4 Assessments
  4. Lesson Four
    Joel and Josiah
    24 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  5. Lesson Five
    Interpreting Prophecy
    34 Activities
    |
    7 Assessments
  6. Course Wrap-up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment
Lesson 3, Activity 17

In Front | Uncle Tom’s Cabin

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One of the cultural events that turned the tide of public opinion against slavery in the United States and Europe before the American Civil War was the best-selling novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the story followed the tragic and persecuted lives of African-American slaves and went on to become the second-best selling book of the nineteenth century—second only to the Bible. Chapter 31 begins with this verse from Habakkuk:

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?
Habakkuk 1:13 KJV

Interestingly, Stowe was inspired to write her book while taking communion at a small church in Brunswick, Maine. While reflecting on the crucified body of Jesus in her pew, she visualized the brutal abuse and death of a slave, who would later become the character “Uncle Tom” in her novel. She went home after the service and started writing that afternoon.  

Jesus’ crucifixion and the ritual of communion (or the Eucharist) follow the message of Habakkuk that God is with us in our suffering. In Jesus’ saving passion, God comes to participate in our suffering in a new way. In the rite of communion we are able, in our suffering, to participate in God’s life in a new way. Reading books like Habakkuk helps to prepare us for the unexpected New Testament Messiah, whose victory will look a lot like defeat. Instead of abolishing violence or explaining it away, he will become the one who absorbs it like no other—for our sake.