God Is Near in Trouble
His way is in the whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3b)
Nah. 1:3-7; Ex. 34:1-14; Jer. 25:32; Jer. 30:23
What Is God Saying?
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria. It was proud and cruel, a scourge to all other nations. It is the focal point of two Old Testament books-Jonah and Nahum. A century and a half before Nahum, Jonah was sent to tell the people of Nineveh that if they repented, God would spare them. Then, as the city continued its downward drift after a brief season of repentance, Nahum was sent to tell them that God could not countenance their continuing evil. He would not ignore that Assyria inflicted suffering on Israel and plundered the wealth of Thebes, treasures which had accumulated through centuries. Nahum 2:11-13 describes Nineveh as "a den of ravaging lions feeding on other nations." They were the pirates of the years before Christ.
Justice would have its day. Nineveh was heading for early and total destruction. Jonah's prophecy calls Assyria's capital Nineveh, that great city. Now, all that is left is a hill of earth known as Tell Kuyunj1k, the mound of many sheep. Nahum 1:14 is on target, not only for Nineveh but for every godless civilization through the centuries, "I will make your grave for you are vile."
It may seem that Nahum’s prophecies are an unrelieved succession of terrible vengeance, which is mainly true. But turn the pages again to discover in Nahum's writing the most picturesque poetry in the Old Testament.
How Does This Apply To Us?
In the poetic imagery of Nahum 1:3b, God does walk in the whirlwind and storm. Clouds are like the dust of His feet. By using these images, Nahum's intent was to show that no nation can get away with murder forever. We look to his description of God's presence in whirlwinds, storms, and clouds to consider that no storm sweeps across our lives without His presence and will. When clouds surround us, it may be proof that He is near. God appeared to Moses and the people of Israel many times in a cloud. He led them through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Ex. 13:21). The glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud (Ex. 16:10). On the Mount of Transfiguration, it was out of a bright cloud that God spoke.
Pray With Me
When Your way leads through whirlwind and storm, teach me to trust that the clouds are the dust of Your feet. Please give me the wisdom to choose the way of quiet trust. I am prone to panic. When my path is difficult and dark, I surrender to doubt and yield to fear. Instead of waiting upon God, I worry about God. Instead of depending on Your providence, I debate Your providence. I pray for grace to abandon my panic, doubt, and fear, to leave them behind in the rubbish of forgotten things.
You make a way in whirlwind and storm. In the face of trials, teach me to sing-"The Lord God omnipotent reigns; the Lord sits upon the flood; the clouds are the dust of His feet."
In the name of Jesus Christ, whose undying and radiant love has subdued the storms of sin and will outshine the last cloud of death. Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
How are we handling the storms in our lives? Do they get us down? Or do they get us down on our knees? Let us be more willing to pray when things are hard. God may be melting us to mold us. He may be getting ready to fill us and use us. Pray without ceasing. Pray with deep trust and gratitude through every weather. Thank you, Nahum, for reminding us that "the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him" (Nahum 1:7).
