The destruction of Nineveh in the book of Nahum is a stark reminder that God is the judge of all the earth, even of those who do not commit themselves to Him.
God did not judge Nineveh, a pagan nation, by natural law, nor did he judge them by their own laws. God judged them according to His Law.
Men may not accept it, believe it, or like it. But all are subjects to the throne of God and are accountable to Him.
If He has not acted, it is not due to His acceptance of a wicked lifestyle. It is due to His patience. He does not look upon evil with favor, but with long-suffering, for God, “endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction.
We learn from the book of Nahum that God is sovereign over His creation and directs history to suit His plans. History records the destruction of Nineveh in 627 B.C. at the hands of the Medes and the Babylonians, former vassals of Assyria. Yet, when this prophecy was delivered, Assyria was still at the height of its power. The absurdity of the greatest military power on earth being subjugated by its current vassals would be as profound as believing that the United States or Russia would be subjugated by two lesser nations in the world in 2015 A.D.
Nineveh fell because it presumed upon the patience of God. It abused this patience by assuming that the patience of God suggested that God was on the side of the Assyrians. Rather than seeing His patience as an opportunity to repent and submit themselves to God, instead they entrenched themselves in idolatry and wickedness.
The title of this blog is derived from the first chapter of Nahum, verse three. In this passage, we see that God “has his way” in whirlwind and storm. It signifies the great power of the destroyer as well as the sense of utter helplessness that is the state of Nineveh. Just as we have no control and no means of preventing a tornado or a great storm, so Nineveh was unable to prevent what was about to happen to it. God’s wrath is not gentle, but fierce.
But, would they have considered this to be the end of their reign, or just another battle to face on their way to continued dominance? How much if history is filled with fallen nations who have presumed restraint from God as being favor from God?
The great lesson from Nahum is this:
Do not confuse the patience of God as being at peace with Him.
In Whirlwind and Storm 