We have a tendency to blame God for the problems in our lives. As we exam the reasons for our difficulties, we may discover that we have a degree of culpability. Nahum, whose name means comfort or consolation, was a prophet who was tasked to bring a message of judgment to the city of Nineveh:

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In whirlwind and storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet. (Nahum 1:3)

The city of Nineveh is the same city that the prophet Jonah delivered his message of judgment. The book of Nahum is the sequel to the book of Jonah and was written about 100 years later. Jonah witnessed the repentance of Nineveh, whereas Nahum witnessed the rebellion of Nineveh. It’s been said that faith is only one generation away from extinction. This is why Moses commanded the Israelites to diligently teach their children God’s commandments. Sadly, they failed to equip their children to stand strong in the midst of a pagan culture. The book of Judges chronicles their history of repeatedly losing and gaining their faith over the years.

Although Jonah was a disobedient prophet, Nineveh became an obedient city and humbled themselves before God. Nahum proved to be an obedient prophet; however, his message fell on deaf ears and the disobedient city ignored God’s warnings and fell to the Babylonian onslaught approximately fifty years later.

The justice of God may appear to be slow, but it will surely come. Sextus Empiricus, observed, “The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind exceeding fine.” Those who reject God’s commandments and His gracious offer of repentance will find themselves rejected by God. Nineveh was given a second chance. The city of Nineveh turned to God during the time of Jonah, but their conversion was short-lived. Approximately 150 years later the city was destroyed.

The book of Nahum presents the reasons why Nineveh would be destroyed and he graphically depicted the oncoming judgment. This book is a warning to any who think they can possess a cavalier attitude toward God and ignore His commandments. Nineveh had been warned. Jesus taught, “. . . From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more” (Luke 12:48).
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Despite the severe warnings and harsh judgment of Nahum’s warnings, God is good and a refuge for those trust in Him:

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

What is your view of God? Do you know that He is good even when you’re in the day of trouble? Do you go to Him as your stronghold? May we heed they warnings of the prophet and experience God’s mercy and not His judgment.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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