Two moments that define you are what you do when you are at the bottom and have nothing, and how you handle yourself when you are at the top and have all the power.
When you know you are more dominant than the people you are going against and have all the power, what do you do with it? Do you win with class, lift people up, and bring them along with you, or do you beat them down and hold them back?
Nahum was a minor prophet when the powerful Assyrian Empire dominated most of the Middle East. They were known as ruthless conquerors who were full of pride and arrogance, so they were targets of God’s judgment in the eyes of the prophets at the time.
Nahum wrote about the impending destruction of the Assyrian Empire, particularly the city of Nineveh, because of their cruelty and wickedness.
He described the city as a ‘bloody city’ and a ‘wicked city’ full of violence and oppression, and he predicted that God would completely destroy the city.
Nahum 1:7 says: “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on His foes and vents His wrath against His enemies.”
Nahum's prophecy was ultimately fulfilled. In 612 BC, the Assyrian Empire was conquered by a coalition of Babylonian, Median, and Scythian forces. Nineveh was sacked and destroyed, just as Nahum had predicted.
Nahum’s words remind us that God is always in control. Even when it seems like evil is winning, He will ultimately bring justice, and He will not allow evil to go on unpunished.
When you are in a position of power, you have a choice to make: do you use your power for good, or not? When you are being held down and back by someone in power, how do you respond?
The hope is that when we do the right thing, over time, good things will happen to us and through us.
SOMETHING(s) TO THINK ABOUT
1 - What is your biggest takeaway from Nahum’s story?
2 - When you are in a position of power, you have a choice to make: do you use your power for good, or not?
3 - Have you ever been around people or leaders who abuse their power? How do you continue to do the wrong thing around people who aren’t?
4 - How can we find hope and encouragement in the face of adversity?
For a printable PDF version of this devotional, click here: Nahum: Wrath and Grace
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