The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him.
Nahum 1: 2-6
Commentary:
People avoid God because they see evildoers and hypocrites in the church. They don’t realize that God’s slowness to anger gives his true followers time to share his love and truth with the evildoers. Judgement will come to those against God; he will not allow sin to go unchecked forever. People wonder why God doesn’t punish evil immediately. Remind them that if he did no one would be here. We can all be thankful that God gives people time to turn to him. Don’t defy God; he will be here forever with greater power than any nation. The relationship you have with God is up to you. What is your relationship with him right now?