Revenge’s Pitfall
2 Samuel 13:28-34
Self wants to return hurt; God wants to heal hurt.
Tokyo police once arrested a man on charges of disturbing and trespassing due to an interesting turn of events. The man had been denied entrance into graduate school fourteen years prior due to a weak recommendation from one of his undergraduate professors. Angry and hurt, he set out for revenge on the professor and spent the next fourteen years of his life calling the professor roughly ten times every night between 8pm and 2am to complain and tear down the man. Finally, the man had enough and sought help from the authorities. Interestingly enough, the police researched the specifics of fourteen years of calls, ten times a day. The vengeful act had led the young man to place over 50,000 calls to his former professor!
When we're wronged or hurt in some way, it's only natural for us to immediately think of acts of revenge. If we feel hurt, so should the one who hurt us. If we were wronged, others should be wronged to. While these emotional thoughts are common to human nature, this is not how God wishes us to handle situations.
Absalom was angry, very angry. His sister had been defiled by one of his own step-brothers. The act had happened in his house and had deeply damaged his sister's life. He wanted revenge, and his vengeance would not be fulfilled until he saw Amnon killed. Absalom held onto these vengeful feelings for two years before he finally saw his plan through.
Although Amnon's actions were dead wrong and David was wrong not to punish him, Absalom never should have taken matters into his own hands. He assumed responsibility to punish Amnon and played the role of God in exacting judgment. When he decided to take revenge, he became part of the sin problem rather than part of the solution.
Most people in the world seek revenge because they believe they are the ultimate source of vengeance. In their minds, if they don't take care of the problem and dole out punishment, who will? But as Christians, we know there exists a higher Judge than us.
When you are wronged, how do you react? Sure, you may feel initial emotions of revenge and hatred, but take a minute to think about the source of those feelings. Are they feelings coming from God or from self? Self wants to return hurt; God wants to heal hurt.
Choose to let go of revenge and allow God to be the ultimate Judge. Whether you see punishment executed or not, trust that the act was not unnoticed by God. He is in control and will handle matters according to His omniscient plan.
Daily Bible Reading
Deuteronomy 32-34 | Mark 15:26-47
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