I’d like to spend a few days looking closely at vengeance. It’s something we’ve all grappled with at one time or another. The most important thing to know about vengeance is this: It belongs to God and God alone.
Vengeance is God’s possession. He tells us so. “Vengeance is mine.” He speaks these words as recorded in Deuteronomy 32:35 and Romans 12:19. It is God’s sole possession.
What else does God call “mine” in the Bible? Two things. Creation (Psalm 24:1). And the tithe (Leviticus 27:30).
But twice God says in His Word that vengeance belongs to Him. Is it important to Him that we realize His ownership in this area?
It is.
When we choose to take vengeance into our own hands, we are essentially saying to God, “Stand down!” And there is a real consequence of our disobedience - God removes His sovereign hands off what is rightfully His and says to us, “Have it your way." And so often we make a mess when trying to avenge ourselves.
God has a thousand ways to do vengeance - and He will do it much better than we will. Because of our sinful human desires, we will always lean toward an eye for eye, and a tooth for a tooth. Which results in one thing - destruction.
Friends, it really is this simple: Either we enact vengeance ourselves, or we trust God to do it. In His time and in His way and for His purposes.
When we trust God with vengeance – what is rightfully His - it builds our faith like nothing else.
And it allows God to accomplish His will in our lives.