Contradiction with Jeremiah 12:1
While Habakkuk 1:12 emphasizes God's eternal nature and justice, Jeremiah questions why the wicked prosper, suggesting a perceived inconsistency in God's justice.
Jeremiah 12:1: Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of [thy] judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? [wherefore] are all they happy that deal very treacherously? [talk...: or, reason the case with thee]
Contradiction with Psalm 44:23-24
Habakkuk 1:12 acknowledges God's sovereignty, yet in Psalms, the psalmist feels abandoned, expressing contradictory feelings of God's absence.
Psalm 44:23-24: Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast [us] not off for ever.
Contradiction with Malachi 1:4-5
Habakkuk speaks to God as everlasting and supportive, but Malachi portrays God as against certain nations, reflecting a seemingly selective divine support.
Malachi 1:4-5: Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
Contradiction with Psalm 89:46
Habakkuk 1:12 sees God as eternal, whereas in this Psalm, the writer questions how long God will hide Himself, which could imply moments of God's absence.
Psalm 89:46: How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
Contradiction with Isaiah 54:7-8
In Habakkuk, God’s favor seems persistent, but in Isaiah, it suggests God may momentarily abandon His people, showing a temporary withdrawal.
Isaiah 54:7-8: For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.
Contradiction with Lamentations 5:20
Habakkuk declares God's everlasting nature, yet Lamentations questions God's remembrance and presence, highlighting a sense of divine neglect.
Lamentations 5:20: Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, [and] forsake us so long time? [so...: Heb. for length of days?]
Paradox #1
The verse in question might seem inconsistent with other parts of the Bible because it suggests that God is eternal and doesn’t die, yet other parts of scripture discuss God's incarnation in Jesus, who experienced death. This can create a tension between the idea of God's immortality and the human experience of Jesus.