August 4 (Daily reading: Nahum) When Jonah preached to Nineveh, the people repented, and God spared the city. But all too soon, Nineveh reverted to its evil ways and God revealed to the prophet Nahum that judgment was coming. Nineveh fell in 612 B.C. Nahum helps us understand many things about God. He revealed that God is jealous, avenging, slow to anger and great in power (1:2-3). God will not share His glory with idols, and He is vengeful toward sin. Peter gave us insight on how He is slow to anger: “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). God is “great in power.” He is sovereign! He can judge and avenge, or He can show grace and save!
Another revelation about God: He will always have the final say! “Whatever you devise against the LORD, He will make a complete end of it. Distress will not rise up twice” (1:9). We live in an audacious world that does not hesitate to blaspheme and ridicule God and act like He does not exist. A New Testament version of Nahum’s words could be Galatians 6:7, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” God’s promise in Isaiah 46:11 is worth repeating: “What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do” (NIV).
Nahum also said about God: “The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who take refuge in Him” (1:7). This is the good news we must share! God revealed to Nahum the same inspiring words He revealed to Isaiah (in 52:7). “Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace!” (1:15).
– Al Gary
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