“Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time. “
Nahum 1:6-9
Two Gods, separate and distinct…
To read the words of the Prophet Nahum you’d almost assume that there were somehow two Gods, each one separate and distinct in their nature and purpose. One a God of wrath and anger, who sees the world and the iniquity and the sins and who pours out the full power of His fury on it, the other, a loving God who is good and who is a strong hold in the days of trouble and the adversity that challenges the spirit and the souls of those who believe in Him and trust in His Holy name.
Yet they’re not, they are and they always have been, they always remain one and the same…
How though? How do two such conflicting natures exist? How can a God who is so merciful and loving be so wrathful and full of anger?
The answer, simple, yet clear, is He is not a God who abides in unrighteousness, in wickedness, in the evil that can be shown amidst this world, rather He pours out His justice towards it, flooding the darkness with His light. Yet this wrath, this fury against such evil is not a rage but a righteous anger that sees suffering and affliction and seeks to put an end to it by His hand, that His love will shine through in all things, through all things.
It is there that He uses that anger to protect His children, to guide them from the wickedness and the iniquity of this world so that they may find themselves abiding in His love. He knows His children, and, as a loving Father, He cares for them and protects them. Just as a father will do anything to protect his child from hurt and pain, sorrow and anguish, just as a father will protect his child from those who would do them harm so too does our Heavenly Father protect His children in the same encompassing love.
It is always then given in His mercy and compassion and the two natures of God are reconciled in His divine and holy righteousness.
Throughout the world around us we see God’s children taken captive. By the force of unrighteous men, hostages and prisoners are taken, human lives are trafficked, slaves are bought and sold, and people are beaten and murdered. Yet even as we look to this chaos and this pain we now that God, He is not far off and that neither are the tools of His justice and His righteousness. He will work through this world and in this world that His will will be done and that justice will reign supreme even when the forces of evil are on the rise.
Tyranny and oppression, fear and hatred, are at a constant war with our Lord and through the power of His might we know that He shall always prevail with strength and power, might and authority, regardless of the challenges that may be there. He shall always be a strong hold for those who trust in Him no matter the power of the enemies, and He shall move through this world to let true and abiding justice prevail regardless of the age we live in.
Trust in the power of the Lord and the greatness of His might and power knowing… knowing that, through it all and in it all, He shall always, without question, without doubt, prevail. Though fear and hatred may be on the rise, though injustice and chaos may be on the march His righteous anger against sin and the forces of evil in this world shall not be quenched until they have turned from their wicked ways and His children are safe from their iniquity and sin in this world.
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