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. (Nahum 1:5-8 ESV)
FEAR NOT… THEN GOD
Kansas has had a lot of earthquakes lately. Perhaps because we are not really used to them, these quakes are frightening. Usually, I am unaware of our occasional tremors. But this week, for some reason, I have felt them.
I have watched knick-knacks on the shelf shake. I have watched pictures on the wall shudder. I have watched my dog cower. I have watched impact tremors in my Diet Coke.
Earthquakes in Israel were more common. Nahum mentions them because quaking mountains and shaking hills were well-known, yet mysteriously frightening. Even though we might think we understand Richter Scales, plate tectonics, and underground lava movements we still look nervously around us.
But God is stronger than an earthquake. God not only understands His creation, He includes it in His plans, actions, and providential care. For those who know God, through Christ, earthquakes are not something to fear.
Instead, they are something that remind us of God; according to Nahum, not just God’s power… but God’s goodness!
What does Nahum mean? Nahum reminds us that the bigger our problem, the bigger God shows Himself to be. Nahum preaches that no matter how scary something is, God yearns to protect you from it. Nahum says that terrifying things are opportunities to take refuge in God.
In fact, the scariest thing, sin itself, was answered by God with power, sacrifice, and love. God is our refuge!
Fear not… Then God.