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Tag: God is Faithful

Nahum 3:1 – Woe to the bloody city!

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On August 29, 2013

In Christian, Nahum, Through the Bible

While the first chapter of Nahum showcases God as a jealous God and the second chapter showcases God as a judging God, the third chapter of Nahum establishes the fact, that God is not only jealous and judging, but that he is a Just God and his justice shall always prevail.

Nahum chapter 3 highlights the justice of God on the enemies of his people (Judah), particularly Nineveh (Assyrians) in this case. The verdict on Nineveh is that it was a bloody city, full of lies and robbery, always victimizing (preying on) other nations and afflicting the people of God (Nahum 3:1; Nahum 3:19). It begins with the words, “Woe to the bloody city!”, the city here referring to Nineveh, the capital city of Assyria. Nineveh was known for its bloodshed. The Assyrians did not spare any nation that they conquered (2 Kings 19:11) and the extent of their vile cruel wickedness stretched to all the nations they invaded (Nahum 3:19). Rightfully so, the Assyrian kings and princesses were referred to as lions (Nahum 2:11-12), for lions do not spare the cubs of the pride that they take over. The Assyrians were guilty of bloodshed and murder, directly contradicting the “Thou shalt not kill” commandment of God (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17; Matthew 5:21; Romans 13:9).

Points to ponder:
The Bible states that in the blood is life (Genesis 9:4) and woe to anyone who sheds blood. By shedding blood, the Assyrians were snatching the life that was in the people, who are fashioned in God’s image.  According to God’s word, this warranted equitable justice – blood for blood, for it is written “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.” (Genesis 9:6). The blood of the Assyrians will soon be spilled by the Medo-Babylonian army of men, that God was raising to conquer Nineveh.

God is a just God, but he is also a loving God. In God’s just nature, he avenges with a “blood for blood” motif, but in his loving nature, he is willing to forgive even the vilest of murderers (like Barabbas (Mark 15:7), king David (2 Samuel 11:14-17), the Apostle Paul when he was Saul (Acts 9:1)). Jesus demonstrated the love of God, by crying out, “Father, forgive them (those who shed his blood by crucifying him to the Cross) for they did not know, how the Justice and Love of God should meet on the Cross, for the remission of sins and redemption of mankind.” Yes, it is  woe to all who shed blood, according to the law, but the law is purged by blood (Hebrews 9:22) for if we repent, God is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins (1 John 1:9).

Nahum 3:1-7 (KJV)
1 Woe to the bloody city! it is all full of lies and robbery; the prey departeth not;

Hebrews 9:22 (KJV)
22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 

Not to con but to confess

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On June 26, 2013

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The two questions that God asked Adam, after God had asked him where he was (after Adam had sinned) are: “Who told you that you were naked?” and “Have you eaten of the tree that I commanded you that you should not eat?”.

The first question goes unanswered and in the article entitled ‘The Naked Question“, an exposition of the first question from God was given. The second question gets answered even though the question itself may seem quite absurd and rhetorical to an omniscient God. The question was “Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou should not eat?” and Adam answered, after attempting some frivolous excuses and playing the “blame game”, “I did eat.”

The significance of God’s questioning and Adam’s response lies in the fact that God is showing us his character. Though he knew of Adam’s sin, he asked Adam instead of accusing him. God wanted Adam to confess for those who confess shall find mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

Adam eventually fessed up saying “I did eat” (Genesis 3:12). Imagine for a moment, what Adam’s consequence would have been, if he had try to con God, or denied his sin. If Adam had refused to accept him sinfulness, implying that he was without sin, he would have made God a liar (1 John 1:10). The Bible teaches us that God is not a man that he should lie nor the son of man that he should repent (change his mind) (Numbers 23:19). It is man, that needs to repent, when he/she sins, with a change and renewing of the mind, so that it does not conform to the patterns of this world (Romans 12:2). The Bible states that if we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) and whoever covers sins will not prosper, but he that confesses (his sins) and forsakes (his sinful life) shall find mercy (Proverbs 28:13).

The wages of sin is death, but instead of punishing Adam and Eve with death, which they deserved, God was merciful in letting them live, but since God is a Holy God, and no unholiness can dwell in his presence, sinful man and woman had to be removed from the garden of God, where God came to commune with man. Though God is a Holy God, he does not accuse man of their sins and is a merciful and forgiving God.

Points to ponder:
Let us not make God a liar but let us find mercy and forgiveness from God. This comes by us,  acknowledging our unrepented sinfulness and confessing our sins, so that he, who is faithful, will have mercy upon us and forgive us, because of his faithfulness. God wants us not to con him, but to confess to him. Have I fessed up? Have you fessed up?

Genesis 3:11-12 (KJV)
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.

Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)
13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Letting God down

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On April 6, 2009

In Christian

In a Time Magazine interview, Billy Graham once said –  “I wake up every morning with a fear, that I may let my Lord down.”
One thing to realize though, is even if we let God down, God will never let us down, for He is FAITHFUL and TRUE (Rev 19:11)
Let’s try not to let God down, holding fast to the profession of our faith without wavering – for He is FAITHFUL. He will never let you down.

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. What is our prayer when we wake up every morning?
  2. What is the righteous fear we have?

Rev 19:11
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Hebrews 10:23
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

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