Bible Truth #219 - Nahum 1:2

Nahum 1:2

The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies.

I would first like to pass on what I once heard a preacher say about the difference between anger and wrath. Anger is an emotion, wrath is anger expressed in action or deed.

The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against His enemies? Who are His foes and enemies? According to the Arminian God loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved. If that is true, I want to know who are His foes and who are His enemies?

You see, what the Arminian believes does NOT add up. The Bible says that God hates the workers of iniquity (Psalm 5:5), God HATES the wicked and those who love violence (Psalm 11:5), and God hates liars (Proverbs 6:19). THESE are His foes and THESE are His enemies. Do not confuse what God commands us to do (love each other and love our enemies) with what He does. He is God, we are not - He can do what He wants. The Bible also says that His foes and enemies hate Him (John 3:20).

Now please tell me;

- since God hates these people and these people hate Him, and

- since the lost are (spiritually) dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1, 2:5, Colossians 2:13), and

- since believing and worshipping Jesus is an act of the spirit (John 4:24),

how can any lost person choose to believe?

Answer - they CAN’T because they hate God and they can do NOTHING to please Him. (Romans 8:8)

Bottom Line - According to Nahum, God DOES have foes and enemies, which, in light of Psalm 5:5 and 11:5, only makes sense.