Recently I made a claim that I found my 'happy place'. Last night, however, when I was sitting on a plane full of a lot of travelers after a layover in Charlottesville, and a long wait on the tarmac as a result of a double trip through the plane de-icing pad, I experienced an exhilarating whoosh up through the clouds and into the pre-dusk skies. I realized the 'happy place' was still around. It was either in my carry-on or in my head and heart. Hallelujah! When I looked below, the houses and factories and highways got smaller and smaller. I love flying; it gives you a proper perspective on life. That is where I realized my happy space was everywhere and it followed me everywhere I went.
Looking out the window of plane, I became entrenched in chasing the clouds and capturing them on my cell phone. When I got home, I decided to read a little before I went to sleep so I checked in to the book of Nahum in the Bible. I have been continually drawn lately to this little book in the Old Testament. Low and behold, in the first few seconds of reading I read: 'the clouds are the dust of his feet'. My first guess as to what is meant would be that clouds can remind us how busy (feet=movement) God is at work as a loving and just God. Just before landing there were seemingly clear skies. Clear skies are good too! It's just all good!
The following is what I know so far about the book of Nahum. It centers on Nineveh, a city in Assyria. Jonah was sent to Nineveh years before to cry against it. Nineveh was an enemy of Israel and Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh and save it. Finally after a trip through the belly of a very large fish deep at the dark bottom of the sea, Jonah was revived and made the decision that God needed him to go confront Nineveh and Nineveh turned to God. Fast forward to many decades, Nineveh slipped into its old ways again when it had risen to its high position as an empire. It is always wise to be thankful when everything is going good and continue to believe God. Many people at that point forget about God and other things sneak into their lives that are not so great. Nahum prophesied to Nineveh of its coming doom because as a nation it had forgotten to continue to believe God. This must have brought comfort and consolation to the people who loved God that God was at work.
The name, Nahum, means 'compassionate or consoler'. The book of Nahum represents 'God's stronghold in time of trouble'. In these recent years, I would say there is plenty of trouble in our atmosphere to push down on all of us. It will be an interesting to work the cloud phrase which I will do to get a clearer picture of what is meant! It is nice to remember God's work in our lives when it's cloudy or clear.
The key verse for those who love God in the book of Nahum is in chapter 1:7:
7 The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
The Old Testament gives us a peek into the New Testament and the meaning of Jesus Christ in our lives. He is our place of safety in the day of trouble because he has connected us to the power of God through the spirit.
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