Wednesday, May 3, 2017

God's Wrath against Nineveh

God Loves Us
God's Pervasive and Sustaining Love


God's Sustaining Love

Nahum 1:1-10 The Message

God Is Serious Business

1 A report on the problem of Nineveh, the way God gave Nahum of Elkosh to see it:
2-6 God is serious business.
    He won’t be trifled with.
He avenges his foes.
    He stands up against his enemies, fierce and raging.
But God doesn’t lose his temper.
    He’s powerful, but it’s a patient power.
Still, no one gets by with anything.
    Sooner or later, everyone pays.
Tornadoes and hurricanes
    are the wake of his passage,
Storm clouds are the dust
    he shakes off his feet.
He yells at the sea: It dries up.
    All the rivers run dry.
The Bashan and Carmel mountains shrivel,
    the Lebanon orchards shrivel.
Mountains quake in their roots,
    hills dissolve into mud flats.
Earth shakes in fear of God.
    The whole world’s in a panic.
Who can face such towering anger?
    Who can stand up to this fierce rage?
His anger spills out like a river of lava,
    his fury shatters boulders.
7-10 God is good,
    a hiding place in tough times.
He recognizes and welcomes
    anyone looking for help,
No matter how desperate the trouble.
    But cozy islands of escape
He wipes right off the map.
    No one gets away from God.
Why waste time conniving against God?
    He’s putting an end to all such scheming.
For troublemakers, no second chances.
    Like a pile of dry brush,
Soaked in oil,
    they’ll go up in flames.

For Reflection

Herein is described a god who will punish evil, but will protect those who trust in Him. Here is a god who is slow to anger but willing to judge. One is right to fear God.  However, God also protects those who fear God and are obedient to God.  God, the father protects God's children. But, for those who do not accept or follow the law of love, seal their own fate.

Pray
Pray to deepen your faith.  Pray and sit quietly.  Wait for God to lead the way.  Pray so that you can be ready when the Lord asks you to act.  Pray for the courage to follow the paths upon which the Lord directs you.

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