Trouble Will Not Come A Second Time

Nahum 1:9
Whatever they plot against the LORD
he will bring to an end;
trouble will not come a second time.

This is a powerful promise that helps us answer many questions. Trouble will not come a second time. Based on this promise we believe that sin will not arise again when we get to heaven. Some people have correctly asked that, what if we go to heaven for eternity, then some angel or someone else triggers the sin problem as Lucifer did. Will we get back to a situation where sin is back? Will we get back to a situation where people are tempted, evil comes and now a Saviour must again die to save people? The answer is right here in the book of Nahum. Trouble will not come a second time!

This is the promise of God. While sinners are given a second and third chance to repent. While sinners may have so many chances to correct their way, sin itself will not be given a second chance. Sin will trouble this world but only this once. We are suffering this once. After sin is destroyed at the end of time, it will never arise again. When Jesus returns and the world ends, sin will never ever arise again. This is God’s promise. Trouble will not come a second time!

The book of prophet Nahum like Prophet Obadiah is written to target enemies of Israel. People who troubled Israel. People who made life hard for Israelites. People who laughed and made fun of Israel as they suffered. Obadiah targets Edomites. Nahum targets Nineveh. Jonah had preached in Nineveh and they repented and God forgave them. But after some time, Nineveh went back to its sinful ways and wanted to harass Israel again. When Nineveh tried harassing Israel again, God sent Nahum to warn Nineveh and assure Israel that God will not allow another round of harassment from Nineveh. Trouble will not come a second time!

Through Nahum, God promises Nineveh that this time He will destroy them and they will cease existing on earth, Nahum 1:8 and Nahum 1:14. God will not allow them to trouble Israel for a second time, once was enough. Sinners may have a second chance, but trouble will not have a second chance. Trouble will not come a second time!

Nahum 1:3 tells us that the LORD is slow to anger, but eventually, He punishes the guilty. God may seem to delay justice, but it never delays. He was slow to punish Nineveh when Jonah wanted it punished. He was slow to kill Jonah when Jonah defied Him and disrespected Him several times. It is to our advantage that God is slow to anger. But Nineveh was now abusing the privilege of the LORD’s slowness to anger. God tells them, enough is enough, I will now punish you, you will not trouble people more than once. Trouble will not come a second time!

Nahum 1:7-8 tells us that God is good but He also punishes. He is good to those who trust Him. He is dangerously destructive to those who hate Him and harass His people. You should know both sides of God. He will be good to Israel but He will punish and destroy Nineveh who are trying to once again frustrate God’s people. Trouble will not come a second time!

Our text today tells us that whatever they plot against the LORD He will bring to an end. When you plot in secret to harm people, God watches. God’s people do not need spies to listen in or bring secrets from the enemy camp, God Himself listens to the enemies of His people. When they plot to attack God’s people, God plans to attack them too. Any plan against innocent people, against God’s people, may have succeeded once, but it will not succeed again. Whatever you do against God’s people, you are doing it against God, Matthew 25:40 and Matthew 25:45. Any plot against God’s people may succeed once because God gives a chance to the attacker to repent. It will not happen a second time. Trouble will not come a second time!

Has anyone succeeded to hurt you? Has anyone made your life difficult? Has anyone scored against you? Justice is coming. They are forgivable, but if they plan again, God has a message to you and them. Trouble will not come a second time!

Have you succeeded in hurting someone? Did you find it easy and sweet? Did it make you feel powerful and invincible? God allowed it. You have a chance to repent and you are forgivable. Are you tempted to hit back again? Are you tempted to hit harder this time around? God has a message for you. Trouble will not come a second time!

Are you experiencing difficulties? Trouble in school? Trouble in business? Trouble at work? Trouble in your health? Trouble in your relationships? Trouble spiritually? The trouble with your money? Go through it without fear. Trust God. He has assured us that it can only happen this once. Trouble will not come a second time!

Like Job, you may go through one session of many troubles. One session of loss of wealth, loss of children, and loss of health. After this session, no other session of suffering, only a session of blessings and prosperity. Your session may be a long one or a short one. Your session may have trouble or many kinds of trouble. Persevere, it will not happen again. Trouble will not come a second time!

Egypt reigned in terror once. Assyria reigned in terror once. Philistines reigned in terror once. Babylonians, Medo-Persians, Greeks and Romans only did it once. The reign of terror is once, but saints will reign forever. Reign of terror by governments and individuals is only once, but God’s people shine forever. Trouble Will not come a second time!

Dear God, when people think of trouble probably I am their trouble. Remind me that I may have many chances to repent, but You will not give me a second chance to trouble anyone. Sober me up when I am drunk with power at the family level, neighborhood level, church level, workplace level, etc. Remind me that Nineveh was not given a second chance to harass anyone. Dear God, I could have been harmed by others, and now I live in fear that they are plotting again. Remind me that You know what they are plotting. Remind me that You will not give them a second chance to harm me. Trouble will not come a second time, in Jesus’ name, Amen!