The desire for vengeance is always triggered by an actual or perceived injustice.  Anger, pain, fear, loss, grief all fuel a desire for retribution.  An ‘eye for an eye’ is a philosophy that people perceive as fair and just in the event of a very serious wrong, but what does the Bible say?

The Bible says,

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.  If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.

Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

On the contrary,

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

if he is thirsty, give him a drink.

For in so doing,

you will heap burning coals on his head.”

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12: 17-21

Jesus says,

“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.  But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”  Matthew 5:44

What is God Really Saying and Not Saying  

Firstly, God is not calling us to let injustice go without any consequences.  When someone breaks the law there are consequences that may entail financial damages or even prison time, but God doesn’t want us to take matters into our own hands to avenge a crime.

Wars especially pre-emptive acts are man’s ways of stopping enemies, but this is not God’s Way because ultimately violence always fuels more violence, more injustice and a growing desire for vengeance.

God is asking us to trust that He will avenge all wrongs!  He is asking us to trust in His justice and surrender our desire for vengeance and retribution to Him.

“Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.” Proverbs 20:22

Evil people will not prosper in the end.

God says “It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.” Deuteronomy 32:35

The Price of Vengeance

What saddens me the most and I believe it causes God the greatest pain is the loss of innocent life in the pursuit of vengeance.  Human life is sacred and it must be protected not taken in a pursuit for retribution, for control and domination.

I grieve for little children born in conflict zones that may have never known what it is like to not hear a bomb going off in the background.  They live surrounded by crisis, by pain, by tears, by violence.

Some may mock Jesus when He says “Love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”  Matthew 5:44 but when we strive to understand what Jesus is really saying we should stop and realize that God is asserting His infinite power and asking us to trust that He will ultimately avenge every injustice.  By praying for our enemies, we are calling upon the omnipotence of God to silence the power of evil and stop that evil in its very tracks.

The world has faith in military might.  In 2026 global military investments are believed to exceed $2.9 Trillion.

Consider for a moment, how many global issues could we address with $2.9 Trillion?

Are we safer because of this enormous investment?

My own personal answer is ‘I don’t think this investment makes the world safer.  On the contrary, I believe this enormous investment is a sign of how much danger we are in!’

How much damage could one single nuclear bomb cause?

Here’s the truth…

The reason so many diplomatic negotiations fail is because Satan is sitting on both sides of the table.  His evil is being manifested in lies, in violence, in terror, in threats, in murder, in the sacred loss of life.  The only way these negotiations will start to succeed is if God is invited into the dialogue.  The Holy Spirit must prevail!  The Holy Spirit must open hearts and minds to understand the tragic and irreparable loss that violence and war bring!  There is no amount of vengeance that will bring loved ones that have died in the crossfires of war back to life.  This is the loss that we must realize is unjustifiable and irreparable, but in so far as leaders see these lives as merely ‘collateral damage’, the violence, the wars, the vengeance will all continue and the tragic losses will continue to climb and climb along with the associated pain, grief and desire for vengeance.

So what to do?

“Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?” Job 36:22

Let us put all our faith and trust in God and pray for God to silence the power of evil that perpetuates violence and wars.

“God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.” Psalm 94:23.

“Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”  Isaiah 35:4

Remember we will all be judged for our actions:

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”2 Corinthians 5:10

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28

Much prayer is needed to stop evil in our world.  I invite you to participate in a powerful Christian prayer movement called The Mercy Movement.  Every day we stop @ the Time Jesus died for us, 3pm, to remember the Passion of Christ and pray for His Mercy upon all.  As we remember the saving sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ let us pray for God to send us His Holy Spirit, to silence the power of the evil one and to create peace where there is violence, to create new beginnings allowing God’s justice to prevail, giving our children and our families the opportunity to learn to love not hate, to forgive and to heal.