Well, our title for our next study is "Vengeance is Mine." Although I'm going to read from Exodus, I want to start reading from Romans, chapter 12:14-20.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (Now listen to this.) Repay no one (no one, no one. I repeated that.) evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not become overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Now Exodus 2:11-15.
One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people. He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, "Why do you strike your companion?" He answered, "Who made you a prince and judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and thought, "Surely this thing is known." When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
It's so important to remember, God hates evil more than we ever will. God hates injustice more than we ever will. God hates oppression more than we ever will. God hates anything that stands in the way of his holy plan more than we ever will. He will act in justice. He will deal with evil. He will strike down anything that stands in the way of his will. He will act on behalf of his people. His will will be done-but in his way and in his time. It is never an act of faith in God to take vengeance into our hands.
In Romans where Paul says, "Leave it to the wrath of God," what he means is, stay out of God's way and let God do what he's promised to do. As we learn from the story of Moses, human vengeance never goes anywhere good, never produces a harvest of good fruit. It's shocking to get the contrast between the two passages that are right next to one another in Exodus. In the first passage, we see the miraculous rescue of the baby boy. Now, raised in the palace, raised, understanding, schooled in Egyptian culture, but a Hebrew at heart, set up for everything he needs to be the leader and the liberator God wants him to be. In the next passage, we see Moses, the murderer; shocking! The rescued and chosen one now lives in lonely exile in the wilderness of Midian. May our trust in the presence and righteousness and faithfulness of our Lord allow us to wait patiently for him to do what only he can properly do. "Vengeance is mine. I will repay, says the Lord!"
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. Why do you think it's usually (if not always!) tempting for us as human beings to take vengeance into our own hands? Why is human vengeance a bad thing? Do you know of any personal examples about how human vengeance has produced a terrible fruit?
2. Why is it comforting to know that God hates evil, injustice, and oppression more than you ever will? Why do you think it's important to remind ourselves often that God will act in justice, deal with evil, and strike down anything that stands in the way of his will?
3. How has patiently waiting on the Lord helped you grow in faith? How have you seen forgiveness instead of revenge bring restoration and healing into your life? How does walking by faith in God help you become more and more like Jesus?
4. What steps of faith might God be asking you to take right now where you're tempted to act out vengeance instead of trusting him?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
1. What do you think vengeance means? Why do you think God says in the Bible, "Vengeance is mine"?
2. Why do you think we can always trust God and his timing for everything, including the areas in our lives that make it really hard to trust him?
3. How does it make you feel knowing that God used a murderer like Moses to free his people from slavery? How does that make you appreciate God's love, forgiveness, and grace? How can you and I extend love, forgiveness, and grace to others who we want to get back at and take revenge for how they've hurt us?
For Older Children:
1. Why do you think it's so difficult and important to trust that vengeance belongs to the Lord and not us? What do you think that even means?
2. Why do you think vengeance feels so natural and forgiveness feels so foreign to us?
3. How does it make you feel knowing that God used a murderer like Moses to free his people from slavery? How does that make you appreciate God's love, forgiveness, and grace? How can you and I extend love, forgiveness, and grace to others who we want to get back at and take revenge for how they've hurt us?
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