Nahum 1

“The burden against Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite: God is jealous, and the Lord avenges; the Lord avenges and is furious. The Lord will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. He rebukes the sea and makes it dry, and dries up all the rivers. Bashan and Carmel wither, and the flower of Lebanon wilts. The mountains quake before Him, the hills melt, and the earth heaves at His presence, yes, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him.” Nahum 1:1-6 (NKJV)

Before Messiah Jesus was taken into custody through the betrayal of Judas, there were several attempts made by Jewish religious authorities to apprehend Him. One such failed attempt is recorded in John’s gospel. Take note of the Pharisees’ rationale of “Biblical ignorance” for why anyone would believe in Jesus…also, Nicodemus’ (the Teacher of Israel – John 3:10) defense of Him!  

“Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, ‘Why have you not brought Him?’ The officers answered, ‘No man ever spoke like this Man!’  Then the Pharisees answered them, ‘Are you also deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.’  Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?’ They answered and said to him, ‘Are you also from Galilee? Search and look, for no prophet has arisen out of Galilee.’” John 7:45-52 (NKJV)

I mention this because of the comical (albeit tragic) rationale of the Pharisees that “no prophet has arisen out of Galilee,” and anyone who would think otherwise was ignorant of God’s Word. In fact, there were TWO Old Testament prophets from Galilee: Jonah & Nahum. And BOTH were called to preach to Nineveh. Jonah was called to preach GRACE, and Nahum preached JUDGMENT, both to lead the Gentiles to repentance! So, the Pharisee’s indictment toward Christians as being Biblically illiterate actually proved their personal Biblical illiteracy. By this time, Nicodemus had most likely become a Christian. (John 19:39)

Getting to today’s passage, it is easy to read the Old Testament and feel that God hates Gentiles. Nothing is further from the truth! He is God “of the world and all who dwell in it.” As such, His heart has always been that all men, everywhere, would repent. (Acts 17:30) Have you received His offer of peace through faith in Jesus?

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make an utter end of its place, and darkness will pursue His enemies.” Nahum 1:7-8 (NKJV)