The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,
and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.
His way is in whirlwind and storm,
and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Nahum 1:3 (ESV)
Today’s devotion concerns a nation from the Bible that underwent a dramatic shift in its view of God in 150 years. From a nation that sought mercy and grace to a nation that rejected God.
This is not a devotion about Jonah but, today’s devotion may entice you to go back and re-read the story. There are so many elements of that great true story that many believers miss.
I hope you will read it once more.
But Jonah’s story is a bridge to Seed Basket’s devotion for today.
Our study is going to take a look at a question that most of us have forgotten to ask.
What ever became of the Ninevites after they found grace with God?
Do you think that they continued to walk with God forever?
Unfortunately, they did not. The Ninevites, or the Assyrians as they are more commonly known, eventually turned their backs on God for the last time.
One hundred and fifty years after their great salvation story, the Old Testament prophet Nahum is tasked with foretelling their imminent destruction.
Why?
The Lord is a jealous and avenging God;
the Lord is avenging and wrathful;
the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries
and keeps wrath for his enemies.
Nahum 1:2
Read the history of the Assyrians. They were not guilty of just worshipping other gods. But they were bloodthirsty and vicious. This was a direct demonic attack on the Church.
The atrocities that they committed were so wicked that to name them might inadvertently honor Satan. It is unnecessary to detail the evil perpetrated by these people.
And so, they have met their end.
9What do you plot against the Lord?
He will make a complete end;
trouble will not rise up a second time.
10 For they are like entangled thorns,
like drunkards as they drink;
they are consumed like stubble fully dried.
Nahum 1:9 & 10 (ESV)
But 150 years before that they were almost as evil. Why did God help them then?
Maybe we should ask ourselves the same question. You see, as every true believer knows, there is no one who stands guiltless before the throne of God.
So why did God hear them when they cried out to Him 150 years before their final destruction? What made the difference?
Who does God hear when they call on Him anyway?
We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, he listens to him.
John 9:31
Well, they didn’t fall into that category yet, did they? Not even after Jonah first spoke to them. They were just polytheistic, superstitious pagans. But they were afraid. And they believed God’s warning spoken through Jonah.
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city,[a] three days’ journey in breadth.[b] 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s journey. And he called out, “Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them
Jonah 3:3-5 (ESV)
God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.
Jonah 3:10 (ESV)
Do you see the difference? They repented when God led them to repentance. They confessed their sin. They believed the voice of God. They humbled themselves before God. They turned from their wicked ways. They glorified God.
Our God is so good. He is holy and just. None of us would seek Him. We would be more likely to go the way of the Ninevites 150 years later, wouldn’t we?
But God’s mercy and unmerited grace pursues men, women and children from every nation, tribe and tongue.
150 years is a long time to be patient, isn’t it?
If you haven’t given Him your heart, why are you waiting?
If you are a believer is this your testimony:
The Lord is good,
a stronghold in the day of trouble;
he knows those who take refuge in him.
Nahum 1:7 (ESV)
If it is, then share the Good News in your world!
[b] Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him
who brings good news,
who publishes peace…
Nahum 1:15 (ESV)
English Standard Version (ESV)
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
Getting the Seed out of the basket and into hungry hearts. Matthew 13 