“The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue His enemies into darkness.” Nahum 1:5-8
Devotional Thought For The Day
We have two compelling concerns and fears: that natural forces are beyond all control and can destroy us arbitrarily at any time, and that justice is delayed or even denied against the wicked and the evil, so that we remain subject to their evil and destructive designs against us. For those who do not know God’s great love for us in Christ Jesus, His free gift of forgiveness, life and salvation through faith in Jesus – “taking refuge in Him,” there is also an ingrained fear of God’s justice, indignation, anger, and wrath. This is erased by false beliefs – a denial that God exists, denial that God is Creator and in control of all of nature, assertion that all moral principles are relative and of no absolute or enduring significance, hope that we are not accountable to God [Who, according to them does not exist, and hence cannot hold us accountable], or the arrogant false assertion that we are good enough to be able to please God with our works. But false beliefs are a mere mental and emotional crutch and do not change reality or exclude us from reality. We can no more re-define and determine what God is than we can arbitrarily determine and dictate what a mountain is, or the nature and behavior of the ocean or the weather. We would immediately recognize the insanity of those who believe that by mere assertion they can change the nature and behavior of these awesome things in nature; we should also immediately recognize the insanity of those who think that they can determine the nature of God and be independent of Him.
These concerns are addressed in the Word of God revealed through the prophet Nahum. It is God Who controls all of nature – and the tragedies in nature are the consequence of the fall into sin and are general [and sometimes specific] expressions of His wrath and anger over human sin. Though His dear children of faith are sometimes negatively impacted by these disasters, God is working all things together for their good – and they will ultimately inherit eternal life in heaven. So, although the same incident affects both believer and unbeliever alike, for the believer it is for his great benefit and blessing while for the unbeliever it is for judgment and destruction. For in regard to those who reject God, declaring either independence from God and/or ascendancy over Him, He says: “But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries, and will pursue His enemies into darkness.” In His own time, according to His own wisdom and eternal plan, we need not fear that the wicked and especially those who corrupt the true knowledge of God will be punished and “chased” into the utter darkness of hell.
So we are invited also to take refuge in Him – in God, the only True and Living God, Who controls all of nature, Who has resolved the issue of our sin and guilt in His Son, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, Who is “the blood atonement for our sin . . . and also for the sin of the whole world,” Who controls all issues of life and death, of poverty and wealth, of blessing and curse, and eternal life and hell, and Who has promised to bless His children of faith in all things while punishing and destroying those who reject Him in false belief and rebellion against His Word. God is good to those who believe in Him, who trust Him, who take refuge in His infinite mercy, forgiveness, and love – He is “a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him.” So we are encouraged to take no thought or fear of the rich, powerful, mighty, influential, arrogant, rebellious, immoral adversaries of God – God will be our stronghold against them, and their time of judgment comes. We are invited to hold with Paul, and to rest ourselves in true faith, that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” and that nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Rom. 8:31,39]
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You know how the forces of nature intimidate us and challenge our faith and trust in You. You also know our hearts, how the apparent success and safety of Your enemies and our adversaries creates consternation and concern in us. We do trust You, and know You are our stronghold. Help us to lay our fears to rest, to trust in Your gracious forgiveness and mercy, Your promise of salvation, and also to wait patiently for Your judgment to fall upon the wicked and unbelieving, all who pervert Your Word. You have spoken; it shall be so. Amen.