God is not impotent. He loves every nation, tribes, tongues, ethnic groups and culture. Bible readers have a tendency to think that God is partial in that He chooses a nation and leaves out the rest. He chose the nation of Israel and showed his favour to them. But the surrounding pagan nations, he dismissed. Dead wrong.
Now, what about the judgments and the atrocities they faced? Why would God punish the Assyrians (capital city is Nineveh)? Remember Jonah!!He warned them and they turned... Praise God!!! They were saved from God's wrath and anger.
But 150 years later, they returned to their old path of idolatry, violence, sexual harlotry and immorality. Sad story. They should be punished, but no!! God was slow to anger, abounding in love…He sent another prophet named Nahum. O Nahum means comfort or consolation. What a gracious name!! He warned, preached and predicted the impending judgment...but this time, the Assyrians went beyond repentance...they have been so hardened, calloused and seared with sin and violence. They were incapable of taking God's warning soberly. Prophet Nahum cried, pleaded and prayed. But the cries went in vain....Now the prophet becomes furious with his gory details of images of wars and death...Bodies piling on the streets, children dashed to pieces and the city never to rise again...God warned, he did warn, didn’t he? But men were rebellious, stiff neck and loved evil. How could the righteous God be quiet and silent? He had to respond...The unmerciful, rogue, beast Mede-Persian tore this nation to pieces and ruins....The same principle applies even today...God is still on his throne executing judgment and he will overthrow unjust governments and violent-filled, corrupted society. He will pour his wrath with his holy anger. But He is sending us warnings, predictions, and judgments. He warns before he brings about any judgment...pay heed to His voice today and be saved.
But when you are saved, don't share the guilt with Assyrians who returned to their old ways...It is better for you not to have known the way, than to know it and turn your back upon it...it is likened unto “a pig who returns to wallowing in the mud after being washed,” likened to “a dog returning to its own vomit” quoting Apostle Peter.
Vebu Khamo Seoul Christian University, Korea.
