Vengeful God. A concept that doesn't ring true for so many today. A concept that turns people away from God, and from His Son. "Vengeance is Mine, sayeth the Lord." Those words, taken out of context, have lost so many. Words from the Truest Source, taken out of context and twisted to do the enemy's will.

Yes, the words belong to God. And vengeance IS His. The message given by them, however, is a message of love and forgiveness. And instruction. Love and forgiveness, by a God who claims the right to enact vengeance upon all? Seems kind of contradictory, doesn't it? But, as with all misunderstood Biblical quotations, the true message behind it makes sense.

We, as human beings, tend to get angry alot. Act without thinking. There are those who spend their entire lives attempting to "get even" for what they consider to be injustices done to them. Often, these people do more damage to themselves by hating and/or by the repercussions of their attempts to "get even". Too often, these people are "getting even" for things done to them that actually help them, if they knew the whole story behind the incident in question. But, in all situations, we humans have a very limited perspective. We don't know why things happen. Only God can see the whole picture, the puzzle pieces of our collective existances coming together.

Which of us, then, is qualified to exact vengeance? None of us. Only God can see the whole picture. Know when vengeance is justified. And He claims that right. Not so He can actually strike down everyone who does wrong to someone else, but so that we humans will not take it upon ourselves to become a world of vigilantes.

His own Son said "Let He who is without sin cast the first stone." Another set of words saying the same thing. "Vengeance is Mine, sayeth the Lord." But, when the Son of God said it, and the people who were about to put someone to death backed away, what did He do? Did He, who WAS without sin, use that divine right to enact justice on the sinner? No. He forgave her.

The message is one of forgiveness. God's Son's actions, his lesson, are obvious. If someone has wronged you, it is not your place to act. Not unless you have never hurt anyone in your life. Not unless you yourself are without sin. If you cannot find it in your heart to forgive those who wrong you, and to put aside your anger against them...give the problem to the One who can actually solve it, without causing more problems for yourself.

"Vengeance is Mine, sayeth the Lord." Thank God.

this page viewed times.

Back