Vengeance & Wrath? Merry Christmas!
Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Nahum 1:2-9 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).
Every December, I am plagued by the constant chorus of, “It’s come ‘round quick this year! Are you ready?” And every December, I nod in agreement, whether or not I feel ready (often not). Usually, they mean are you ready for the family drama, the chaos, the endless parade of holiday events? But Advent isn’t just about getting ready for Christmas morning, it’s about preparing our hearts for something much bigger: the return of Christ. And that kind of preparation needs more than fairy lights.
If that’s what we’re getting ready for, we can’t ignore passages like this one. We like to focus on the warm fuzzies of Christmas like peace, joy, good will to all, and sweet little baby Jesus in a manger. But then along comes the book of Nahum, and suddenly God is furious, jealous, and bent on vengeance. Bet you don’t see that in the kids nativity. Merry Christmas?
For me, yes. Because if like me you’ve ever felt powerless or overlooked, mistreated or dismissed, you may have longed for a God who doesn’t turn away. A God who sees injustice and says, “That’s enough.” Maybe like me, you needed a God who cared enough to get angry. That’s the God this passage points us to. He’s not out of control. He’s not unpredictable. His anger isn’t in spite of His goodness, it is His goodness in action. He gets angry because He loves. And love protects. God’s wrath isn’t separate from His mercy. In fact, verse 7 calls Him ‘a refuge in the storm.’ Not because He avoids judgement, but because He brings justice through it. For me, that’s not terrifying, it’s hopeful.
This Advent, the book of Nahum invites us to prepare for the return of the Lord who is both loving and strong. A God who brings peace not by ignoring evil, but by defeating it. So maybe the better question this year isn’t, “Are you ready for Christmas?” but “Are you ready for Christ?” Are you ready to let the God who loves you enough to get angry into your life?