Nahum: So, You Thought God Had Forgotten?

We are in the book of Nahum — or Nehem, as some pronounce it.

This little book comes roughly a century after Jonah, and if you don't remember what happened in Jonah, wueh! You might miss why Nahum is saying what he is saying.

Remember Nineveh? These are the people who repented when Jonah announced that God would destroy their city. God saw their change of heart and relented. Jonah wasn't particularly excited about God's decision, but that is a story for another day.

Now, fast-forward a few generations. The same Assyrians are terrorising other nations and behaving as though the world belongs to them. They attacked Israel, conquered Samaria and carried many Israelites into captivity. Later, they even besieged Jerusalem, only for God to intervene and deliver the city (2 Kings 18–19; Isaiah 36–37).

You would think people who had once experienced God's mercy would know better. Apparently, history can repeat itself, even after a very powerful repentance meeting!

This is where Nahum comes in. His message is simple: God is merciful, yes, but please don't confuse His patience with permission to continue doing what He has told you to stop doing.

Chapter 1: Who Is This God?

Chapter one introduces us to God. He is jealous, slow to anger and good, a stronghold in the day of trouble (Nahum 1:2-3, 7).

Why begin by describing God? Because Assyria was a superpower. Looking at its military might, one could easily conclude that nobody could touch it. God is essentially reminding His people, “You think these guys are powerful? Have you considered who I am?”

Chapter 2: The Fall of the Untouchable

Chapter two takes us into the downfall of Nineveh. We see red shields, scarlet-clothed warriors and chariots flashing like torches (Nahum 2:3-4). The city that had made other nations tremble was now facing an army of its own. Its wealth would be plundered, its strength broken and its messengers silenced.

God declares, “Behold, I am against thee” (2:13, KJV). When God says that, even a superpower needs to sit down and listen!

Historically, Nineveh fell in 612 BC to a coalition led by the Babylonians and Medes. The mighty Assyrian Empire was not as untouchable as it had imagined.

Chapter 3: Why?

Chapter three tells us why this was happening. Nineveh is described as a “bloody city,” full of lies and robbery (Nahum 3:1). These people had built their greatness through violence, exploitation and deception.

God even reminds them of Thebes in Egypt, a city they had conquered, as if to say, “You remember what you did there? Well, you are not exempt from the same treatment” (Nahum 3:8-10).

The Good News

There is also that familiar verse in Nahum 1:15 about the feet of the person bringing good news and proclaiming peace. We often use it when talking about evangelism, but in its immediate context, the good news is for Judah and the feet are those of Nahum. Their oppressor is going to be dealt with! They can prepare to celebrate their feasts and fulfil their vows because the enemy that has troubled them will no longer pass through their land.

Imagine receiving that message after living under the shadow of a brutal empire. The people feared Assyria, but Assyria was not greater than their God.

So, What About Us?

Here is something to think about. Nineveh had repented during Jonah's time, but the generations that followed returned to the same wickedness. Their ancestors' repentance could not do the repenting for them. You cannot inherit somebody else's obedience and use it as a licence for your own disobedience.

We too can spend a lot of time asking God to deal with our enemies. “Lord, see what that person is doing to me!” Fair enough. But what happens when God finishes dealing with them and turns around to ask what we are doing? Suddenly, the prayer meeting becomes very personal!

As you read Nahum, ask yourself:

- Who is this jealous God?

- Am I mistaking His patience for approval?

- Is there something He has asked me to change, but I keep postponing because nothing bad has happened yet?

God is merciful, but He is also just. His patience gives us room to turn around; it is not an invitation to keep walking in the wrong direction.