#48 ON THE NATURE OF GOD: LEARNING FROM THE PROPHETS: NAHUM

Did you ever play with your chewing gum or bubble gum and get it stuck to your fingers, your face, and anything that you came in contact with? If chewing gum does not stay in its place, your mouth, a mess will result!

Nineveh, the great capital of the Assyrians during the later days of Israel and Judah did not remain as it was. It did not ‘stay in its place.’ Earlier, Nineveh had responded to Jonah’s preaching and repented, Jonah 3:5:

“And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.”

God saw their repentance and decided against destroying them at that time.

But they did not remain in the repentant state. As time passed, they reverted to their former sinful behavior. God then had the prophet Nahum to prophesy against them, Nahum 1:1-3:

“An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh. The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.”

Nineveh would now be destroyed, Nahum 1:14 and 2:13:

“The LORD has given commandment about you: “No more shall your name be perpetuated; from the house of your gods I will cut off the carved image and the metal image. I will make your grave, for you are vile…

…Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall no longer be heard.”

Nineveh not only worshipped idols, they were also guilty of murder and social sins, Nahum 3:1and 6:

“Woe to the bloody city, all full of lies and plunder—no end to the prey…

…I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle.”

They were so wicked they were beyond hope, Nahum 3:19:

“There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?”

It is the nature of God to warn the wicked such as the Ninevites of their upcoming doom.

Today it is the nature of God to warn the wicked through the Bible, His inspired word, of their sins and call them to repentance.

Note also that Nahum and similar prophecies uttered long before their fulfillment comprise important proof that God is the author of the Bible.

#proofBibleFromGod #Nineveh #Assyria #JonahPreaching #NinevehDestroyed #GodWarnedNineveh #NoHope #WickedPeople #callToRepentance #socialWickedness #worshipIdols #vengenceOnAdversaries