Instilling Biblical Truths into my Granchildren – Vengeance belongs to the Lord

Vengeance belongs to the Lord only.  How often we want to take matters in our own hands.  We become angry or disgruntled regarding a matter and just want to get even.  With the election still on everyone’s minds, I am amazed at how people want vengeance because they are angry at the outcome of the election.  

It is always best to leave matters in the Lord’s hands.  

He knows when to give vengeance and He will when the time is right.

Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Yes, this is an Old Testament law, but it goes right along with the truth that we should love our neighbor as ourselves.  And who is your neighbor? (Just read the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10). If we love others as ourselves, we will not take vengeance, but instead will let God do the avenging.

Vengeance belongs to the Lord and He sometimes takes vengeance on His own.

Psalms 99:6-9 Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinance that he gave them. Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

I love these verses.  Moses and Aaron and Samuel were sinful humans just like myself. Yet, God in His mercy heard and answered their prayers. He forgave them! But He did take vengeance of their inventions.  He punished them for their wrongdoings.  Moses lost his right to the promised land. (Numbers 20)  Aaron and Miraim were punished when he went against the leadership of Moses. (Numbers 12) And Samuel’s children did not walk in God’s ways. (1 Samuel 8)  We can’t get away with our sin, yet praise God He loves us so much that He forgives us,  hears us and answers us.

What a blessing to know that His vengeance on me is not the same as his vengeance on the wicked.  

I want my grandchildren to know and believe that they need God and that it is not worth it to go the way of the wicked. God will have vengeance upon them; a vengeance that ultimately condemns them to the lake of fire. (Remember, He did not come to condemn.  We are condemned already.  He came to save a lost and dying world). 

However, as a child of God, (are you His child?) His vengeance is merciful; He loves us and therefore chastises us as sons. He is always faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all our sin. 

This post is part of the series Instilling Biblical Principles Into My Grandchildren.  The series begins here.