All of us have been very angry at one time or another. Moments of rage often lead to the desire to “get even” often leading to unintended consequences. Rage and vengeance, though, are part of your attitude, and a matter of choice. God allows our choices, so let’s look at a couple of characters exemplifying vengeance in the Holy Bible.
Cain’s vengeance on Abel is the earliest story about vengeance in the Bible. Genesis 4 reveals a history of love, two types of obedience, disobedience, jealousy, dependence, chagrin, protection and acceptance. Cain’s choice to disobey God in making a sacrificial offering was his sin. Sin is anything that displeases God.
Cain was not submissive to his God, having chosen the type of offering not specified by God. His rebellious attitude flashed, and he killed his brother in an effort to prove himself to himself. No one else was impressed. Cain’s hot anger against Abel caused God to exile him, thereby putting him in danger. Cain’s punishment was to exchange his peaceful and provident homeland for a transient life full of uncertainty, uncertainty of all kinds of known provision that Cain had previously experienced. But God also protected Cain from other vengeful men by marking him appropriately. Certainly, disobedience to God’s will produces punishment, which, by definition produces pain and suffering.
Samson is another picture of rebellion against God and government, pain and suffering. Judges 13 tells us that Samson was born to the family of Dan, but that he would be a Nazarite from the day he was born. Nazarites were Godly men and women known as a distinct community dedicated to serving God. Judges 13:5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
Samson received the Lord’s blessing in Judges 13:24.
As with Cain, God allowed Samson to make his own choices. Samson apparently followed Nazarite traditions when it was comforting to him. He kept his head unshaven for example. But when it came to worldly pleasures Samson jumped right in.
Philistia ruled Israel at that time. Taking a Philistine woman as a wife must have seemed natural to Samson even though his mother and father pleaded with him to take a Jewish wife. Together Samson and his parents went into Timnah to take a Philistine wife who had captured Samson’s attention. Without God’s guidance he acted on his own to do God’s will. See Judges 14:4. He even took prostitutes! His ungodly choice of women resulted in his wife’s and her father’s death as the Philistines sought vengeance for what Samson had done to them. The circle of atrocities and vengeance had begun. But Samson judged Israel for twenty years under Philistine’s rule.
Ultimately, the Philistines blinded Samson, imprisoned him and publicly mocked him thereby elevating their vengeance before he, in a suicidal endeavor, killed about three thousand men and women. For brevity, I’ve left out dozens of important details; so feel free to read four brief chapters in Judges, Chapters 13-16. It’s an exciting story even though you are beginning to see how God uses vengeance to complete the whole picture.
Perhaps my favorite character in the Bible is David, the second King of Israel. He handled vengeance quite a bit differently than the two previous examples. Getting to know David as a man requires reading 1st and 2d Samuel and Psalms. There, you’ll see a man who was unjustly accused of offending his King and for that offense was persecuted as a criminal wanted by law, who was twice given the opportunity to slay King Saul, yet was so trusting in God to deal with his situation that he privately withheld the death blow and then publicly stated his loyalty to King Saul.
Vengeance in return for offense of any kind is not the right answer. David knew that and he acted wisely. David faced offense personally from the man he knew as his friend and his King; and officially, as the King’s government was clearly used for tyranny against David. Defending oneself against government tyranny or personal bullying is not vengeance. The Bible is full of examples for us to follow in protect ourselves from government tyranny and personal bullying. Romans 13, 1 Peter and other passages apply to morally just governments, not tyrannical ones. Defense against tyranny and overreacting to such offense is a fine line that is made clear in knowing God’s will as it is presented in the Bible. David understood that as he was given the opportunity twice to take King Saul’s life while he slept.
Vengeance is God’s prerogative, not ours. Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Hebrews 10:30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
His prerogative is exercised when we sin, any sin, little or large. The Bible says in Romans 3:23, For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
And in Romans 5:12, Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
For more about this go back to my homepage and read through How To Go To Heaven. It tells you how God will take you to Heaven, not how you or your loved ones might think you can get there.
