Steady and Unchanging (12)

Three quick raps on the dining room window, I look up and my wife is waving at me to come outside.  I turn around in my chair and look back at my oldest asking her with my eyes do you know what that’s all about?  Neither of us have a clue which speeds up our desire to know what this commotion might be about.  Looking out from our deck, we hear a high buzzing, whirring sound.  The neighborhood amateur RC-pilot is out with his F15 Eagle flying overhead.  He flies 100 feet up in the air and buzzes back down.  The plane has a near 4-foot wingspan allowing him to loop back and forth over the park, buzz over our house, perform a 180-degree loop and barrel roll effortlessly back to the park.  Every time he flies the plane, hundreds of eyes around look up in amazement.  Every time he flies, he also has to combat the unchanging force of gravity.

Do you remember the story of Jonah?  I love Jonah: A Veggietales Movie.  They nearly have every bible story performed by vegetables.  In any case, the story of Jonah is quite remarkable.  For me it’s not how God saved Nineveh from receiving His wrath, but it’s the prophet Jonah, who at first rejected God's instruction to go, ended up in the belly of a big fish, dumped onto dry ground three days later, then finally followed God’s instructions and preached to the city, calling for them to repent from their wicked ways.  Interestingly, they heard the call and repented, but Jonah still wanted to see God’s wrath fall upon Nineveh.  

It’s an amazing story because you end up seeing how Jonah gets mad at God’s forgiveness; God doesn’t bring judgment because their sins have been forgiven.  And that’s usually where we end the story of Nineveh; however, nearly 100 years later, Nineveh returns to its evil and wicked ways.  This is where Nahum comes into the picture.  He proclaims to the people that God is just, steady, and unchanging.  He “is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished” (v. 3).  You see the people had forgotten about the Lord.  They had forgotten His Law.  Part of the Assyrian empire, they trusted in their military might and dependence on no one.  They rejected Him and had themselves believe their own rules were better than a life of righteousness.

What if the pilot of plane decided his rules were better, that the plane didn’t need to obey the laws it was bound to, like the law of gravity?  He would soon find out that the plane would be in pieces, spread across the field, destroyed.  For just like the physical, unchanging rules of gravity present long ago and present today, He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  A life of humility and righteousness is required of us today just like he required of Nineveh nearly 2,700 years ago.

⁷ The LORD is good, 
   a refuge in times of trouble. 
He cares for those who trust in him, 
 ⁸ but with an overwhelming flood 
he will make an end of Nineveh; 
   he will pursue his foes into darkness.

⁹ Whatever they plot against the LORD 
   he^[a] will bring to an end; 
   trouble will not come a second time. 
¹⁰ They will be entangled among thorns 
   and drunk from their wine; 
   they will be consumed like dry stubble.^[b] 
11 From you, O Nineveh, has one come forth 
   who plots evil against the LORD 
   and counsels wickedness.

12 This is what the LORD says:

“Although they have allies and are numerous, 
   they will be cut off and pass away. 
Although I have afflicted you, O Judah, 
   I will afflict you no more. 
¹³ Now I will break their yoke from your neck 
   and tear your shackles away.”

¹⁴ The LORD has given a command concerning you, Nineveh: 
   “You will have no descendants to bear your name. 
I will destroy the carved images and cast idols 
   that are in the temple of your gods. 
I will prepare your grave, 
   for you are vile.”

¹⁵ Look, there on the mountains, 
   the feet of one who brings good news, 
   who proclaims peace! 
Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, 
   and fulfill your vows. 
No more will the wicked invade you; 
   they will be completely destroyed.

Nahum 1:7-15

12 days!