Scripture Text: Nahum 3:8-13
You also will be drunken; you will go into hiding; you will seek a refuge from
the enemy. All your fortresses are like fig trees with first-ripe figs— if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater. Behold, your troops are women in your midst. The gates of your land are wide open to your enemies; fire has devoured your bars.
Nahum 3:11-13 (ESV)
There was a survey made in America that discussed their behavior of mixing and matching their religious beliefs for personal reasons. Another recent survey focused on American “millennials”—the generation born about 1980 that came of age at the turn of the millennium—sees a similar decline in orthodox Christian beliefs: Twenty–six percent of this generation are not affiliated with any church or faith tradition, even though 41 percent pray daily and 53 percent are “certain God exists.” Only 18 percent attend any worship service weekly. Among all Americans, more than half say they combine their religion with New Age and Eastern beliefs such as astrology and reincarnation.
Although these numbers show a thirst for spirituality, God will not bless
those who make up their own truth. They will reap what they sow, just as in
today’s reading. This passage is another reminder that God’s judgment is
certain because His power is absolute. If the Ninevites doubted, all they
needed to do was remember Thebes (vv. 8–10).
Thebes, located about 400 miles south of Cairo on the eastern bank of the Nile River, was the capital of Upper Egypt. Defended by many moats and canals and with strong allies, Thebes was nonetheless destroyed by Assyria in 663 B.C. Assyrian records contain many details of this great victory, such as the exile of the city’s people, the enslavement of its nobles, and the slaughter of its infants. Jeremiah and Ezekiel both prophesied
about this.
Nahum’s point was that Nineveh would suffer the same horrifying, humbling fate (vv. 11–13). Though now on top of the world, they would soon be running and hiding like refugees or like women (given that war was a “manly” pursuit in that day and age). Their defenses would fall like ripe figs—a startling simile, like comparing nuclear missiles to dandelion seeds blown away by the wind. Furthermore, the figs do not merely drop and spoil, rather, they are hungrily and effortlessly devoured, just as Nineveh would be by the armies of Babylon.
Reflect
1. Do you accept that whatever you sow, you shall reap?
2. How do we respond to temptation?
3. Do you trust God alone with your life?
4. Do you truly humble yourself before God?
Remember
In the face of temptation, let us pray our defenses do not drop like ripe figs! When under spiritual attack we must “put on the full armor of God.” We are to “stand firm” with the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, and other spiritual truths pictured as pieces of military equipment. Behind the shield of faith, we are safe from the “flaming arrows of the evil one,” and with the “sword of the Spirit” we can disarm him.
Dear readers, the great lesson of Nahum is to see that the character of God makes Him not only a stronghold to all who trust Him, but One who “will not at all acquit the wicked.” He can be “just yet the justifier of him who believes in Jesus”, but only because His law has been fully vindicated in the cross.
Read
Jeremiah 46:25; Ezekiel 30:14-16; Romans 3:26; Ephesians 6:10-18
Pray
Dear LORD, make my heart always be fearful, humble, faithful and loving
to You. Be my stronghold, oh LORD. Please increase my faith and strengthen
me always as I face the trials and temptations as I journey through this life.
This I pray in His name, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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