Vengeance Bites Back

I remember being told at a pretty young age the Lord will take care of fighting on my behalf. I should not participate in striking out in vengeance against another. There have been many times that I wanted to strike back against my enemies, but the Lord defended me and avenged me. When I walk with the Lord, He is my Counsel and my Defender. I learned a long time ago that I couldn’t control what others think of me. There are people who don’t even know me and have decided for whatever reason that they don’t like me. This really stung me when I first realized it about 30 years ago. I am reminded daily that I have an audience of ONE that I should be most concerned with what the Lord thinks of me.

Queen Esther had invited the King and Haman (his right hand man) to dine with her a second time. I’m not sure if Esther was getting up the courage to speak on behalf of her people or what, but her timing could not have been better. Haman had planned a big day when he was going to the king early that morning. He was going to ask the king for permission to hang Mordecai on the gallows he was building at his house. When he arrived, the king had decided to honor Mordecai because he had reported the assassination plot. Haman was humiliated. He rushed home to regroup with his wife and friends when his ride showed up to take him to dinner with the King and Queen. He started out with a vengeful day planned, but it certainly bit him in the end. Check this out…

1 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. 4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”

5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”

6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”

Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. (Esther 7:1-6 NIV)

Haman’s day went from bad to worse. He was a vengeful and proud man, but in short order he was to be punished by death. I’m not sure he realized the story behind Queen Esther. His hatred for Mordecai had blinded him profoundly. His vengeance came back to destroy him.

I know what it’s like to want revenge. I’ve wanted to strike back at someone who has caused me harm, but sometimes the mess just gets messier. I really want to walk with the Lord and listen to His counsel and let Him handle any vengeance that is needed on my behalf. He has way more power and understanding with what it takes to defend me and save me. Vengeance might make me “feel good” in the moment, but it could ultimately destroy me too. I think vengeance is a close cousin to bitterness and pride – I would be wise to steer clear of all of these.

Pressing On!

Dwayne