God’s nature

Verse 2 says, “A jealous and avenging God is the Lord; the Lord is avenging and wrathful. The Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies.” This verse is the central verse of Nahum chapter 1 and its main theme. Nahum is about to speak a prophecy of “destruction” against Nineveh, which was in the midst of its prosperity. Let us now see what kind of nature the One who will destroy Nineveh possesses. (1) The Lord is a jealous God and an avenging God. God is not one who leaves sin unpunished. Those who oppose God will never prosper forever. Remember this and learn to fear the Lord. (2) The Lord is slow to anger and patient (ref. Ex. 34:6-7). This had already been demonstrated in the days of the prophet Jonah. God sent the prophet Jonah to Nineveh. Through Jonah’s message, the city of Nineveh repented and escaped judgment. By God’s patience, the people of Nineveh were spared from death. However, the people of the next generation returned again to their former sinful ways and brought upon themselves the wrath of God. (3) The Lord is a mighty God. Therefore, He is able to judge the sin of Nineveh. God’s power is clearly revealed in four realms. (a) God is the One who rules over the weather. As it is written, “In the gale and the storm is His way, and clouds are the dust beneath His feet” (v 3). (b) God is the One who rules over the waters. “He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, the blossoms of Lebanon wither” (v 4). Bashan is the modern-day Golan Heights. It is the source of the waters of the Jordan River. Mount Carmel is a mountain rich in water. It was on this mountain that the prophet Elijah fought against the prophets of Baal. Lebanon is also known as a land abundant in water. Yet even in such water-rich lands, the sources of water dry up by the word of the Lord. (c) God is the One who rules over the dry land. It says, “Mountains quake because of Him, and the hills come apart; indeed the earth is upheaved by His presence” (v 5). (d) Finally, the Lord is the One who rules over all humanity. As it says, “The world and all the inhabitants in it” (v 5).

Our response

Nahum asks, “Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the burning of His anger?” No one can stand before the mighty Lord. However, Nahum also tells us that the Lord is a fortress. This is the good news. “The Lord is good, a stronghold on the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him” (v 7). There are those who claim, “If God is love, it is impossible for Him to judge sinners.” Such people emphasize only one aspect of God’s nature and cannot be said that they see Him as whole. Let us accept all of God’s nature. Blessed is the one who walks trusting in the Lord alone. Blessed is the one who flees into the hands of the Lord on the day of trouble.