Nahum 1:2-8

During the prophesying of Nahum to the people of Nineveh, we are given insight into two great aspects of God. We can see the severity and kindness of God. Nahum states how the Lord is a jealous and avenging God, as well as wrathful, and that His vengeance is going to come upon His adversaries. We also know that He is a God that will not leave the guilty unpunished.

However, God is also good and kind. Nahum says how He is a stronghold in the day of trouble and that He knows those who take refuge in Him. God will punish those that are against Him but He will also protect those with Him. And when it says that God knows it means that He truly knows those that are with Him and not just those who act like they are when it benefits them. God’s kindness is truly great for those with Him, but are you with Him? And being neutral is does not count in this instance. Because even if you live a life that consists of good and happiness you still have to be on one side or the other. You can’t live a life absent of God and be on His team. If we live for ourselves, even if that means we live a good and moral life, we are still adversaries of God because we are not His allies.

God wants us to be on His side and He wants to protect us from the death that is to come, but we have to make that choice. So what kind of choice will we make? Will we live for God and hold fast to all that He teaches or live for ourselves and be the object of God’s wrath in the end?       Jacob Saarloos