Vengeance
This is not a nice word. It is an ugly word that carries with it violent revenge. It is a disease of an unforgiving heart. If I sound like I know a thing or two about revenge, it’s because I have experienced vengeance as the giver and the receiver of it. I have been hurt by others and it’s very easy to move toward vengeance in response to the pain that I’m feeling. Vengeance is a bit self-destructive. The person enacting vengeance is NOT going to feel fulfillment after being vengeful.
This man Haman, had just been promoted to King Xerxes “right-hand-man” and he expected people to bow before him and show him respect. Mordecai refused and this infuriated Haman.
5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. 6 He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes. (Esther 3:5-6 NLT)
Vengeance is NEVER a good solid solution. It is definitely from my flesh. It is a tool of the enemy who is seeking to destroy me NOT to build me and help me grow. I think vengeance is directly opposed to forgiveness, which is giving up my right to strike back. Paul speaks about vengeance to the church in Rome many years after this event. Check this out….
Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19 NLT)
I don’t have to keep vengeance in my arsenal of responses to hurt or anger. If someone is trying to hurt me, The Lord will take care of the situation. I only have to trust Him and be patient. There are times that vengeance is screaming out to me to strike back, but I will certainly not be representing Christ-like character if I enact vengeance.
I am still learning to bite my lower lip (in fact, I may have a callus there!) to keep from speaking when I should be silent. Words spoken out of hurt and frustration are often laced with vengeance which is destructive to others and self-destructive to me.
Pressing On!
Dwayne