Message topic: Should Christians practice revenge?
Genesis 50:15-21
The word revenge is commonly used and practice among mankind today every-where, but what does the Bible has to say to us about the practice of revenge.
The Bible shows examples of people seeking or enacting revenge in both the Old and New Testaments, such as the stories of Simeon and Levi in Genesis: or the cycle of vengeance between Samson and the Philistines in judges. However, the Bible also teaches that vengeance belongs to God alone; urging believers to instead, leave room for the wrath of God and to overcome evil with good, as stated in Romans 12:19 and 12:21. There are key verses like Deuteronomy 32: 35, Romans 12:19, and Hebrews 10;30 emphasize that seeking personal revenge is not a righteous path, and instead, Christians are called to forgive and entrust justice to God.
One of the loudest cry ever not to revenge is found in Genesis 50: 15-21: listen to these words. When Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will per adventure hate us, and will certainly revenge us for the evil which we did unto him.
And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, so shall you say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; which they did unto thee: and now we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, behold, we be thy servants. Then Joseph said unto them, fear not: for, am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear you not; I will nourish you, and your little ones, and he comforted them.
Why did the brothers of Joseph become afraid of him revenging them? They knew the way they treated him in his young days, and now that he has become one of the most powerful men alive, and have power to do what ever he will, and knowing what they did to him, they were a fared if he did not truly have the true Spirit of God in him, he could revenged them for what they had done to him because of their dislike for him, not knowing he was being used by God while he was yet a youngster.
Have you ever asked yourself, what does the bible says about revenge?
The key verse regarding this truth is found in the Old Testament and quoted twice in the New Testament. God said it is mine to avenge; I will replay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them. In Deuteronomy, God is speaking of the stiff-necked, rebellious, idolatrous Israelites who rejected Him and incurred His wrath with their wickedness.
He promised to avenge Himself upon them in His own timing and according to His own timing and according to His own perfect and pure motives. The two New Testament passages concern the behavior of the Christian, who is not to used God’s authority. Rather, we are to allow Him to judge rightly and pour out His divine retribution against His enemies as He sees fit.
Paul is reminding us in Romans 12; 19 with these words, dearly beloved, avenge not your selves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord.
What is revenge really? Revenge is to inflect damage, injury or punishment in return for an injury, insult or punishment in return for an injury or so on, to take revenge is an act of evil.
The Bible has a great deal to say about revenge. Both the Hebrew and Greek words translated venqeace’ revenge, and avenge have as their root meaning the idea of punishment. This is crucial in understanding why God reserves for Himself the right to avenge. In Deuteronomy, God is speaking of the stiff-necked, rebellious Israelites who rejected Him and incurred His wrath with their wickedness.
He promised to avenge Himself upon them in His own timing and according to His own perfect and pure motives.
The two New Testament passages concern the behavior of the Christian, who is not usurp God’s authority. Rather, we are to allow Him to judge rightly and pour out His divine retribution against His enemies as He sees fit.
Listen to these encouraging words from Paul to us: I appeal to you brothers, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
How, and when was the last time you and I revenge someone for what they said or did towards us which we were not approved of? Do we as followers of Christ Jesus has the right to do what we want to do, or to strictly follow the true examples of the life Christ demonstrated to us?
Jesus was true to His father in every way, that is why the Father said of Him, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. Jesus desires that all who believes in him, should follow the guiding of the Holy Spirit which He put in us, as He followed the commands of His father.
Are you and I as Christians obediently following His commands to follow only what He says and does which includes leave revenge to God?