Daily Devotional: Refuge When Trouble Comes

Read Nahum 1:7

Do you ever wonder if it really is true that only the good die young? There are times when it seems that people who are selfish, mean, and egotistical get all kinds of success while those who play by the rules and put others before themselves get the raw end of the deal. It is true. That does happen. However, that is not the end of the story.

The verse you just read is one of only a couple verses in the short book of Nahum that have a positive tone, but the whole book shows who really is in charge. The rest of the book of Nahum describes what God plans to do with Ninevah, the capital city of Assyriah.

Interesting side note: Ninevah is the city to which God sent Jonah (you know, the prophet who had an especially close encounter with a whale) to warn the people there that God would destroy them due to their wickedness. For a short time, the people of Ninevah repented, but sadly roughly 100 years later they have long returned to their wicked ways and openly defied God.

At the time the prophet Nahum wrote these words, Assyria was the wealthy, powerful empire that was hated, yet envied, by the rest of the world, including the land of Judah who had been enslaved and sucked up into Assyria’s empire. Throughout the book of Nahum, God’s power, wrath and judgement are vividly described, and Judah is reminded who God is and that He is about to free them from captivity. Within approximately 50 years, the city of Ninevah falls and just a few years later Assyria is completely conquered.

Remembering that God is the one who is in control is encouraging; and so is knowing that the most powerful force in the Universe also knows you and knows that you trust in Him. Just as He is able to destroy all wickedness, He also cares for you and will rescue you in times of trouble. Hang in there. There’s more to your story.