‘Avenge’, ‘retribution’ and ‘recompense’ are words commonly used in the Bible to mean inflicting deserved or justified punishment on a wrongdoer, either by God Himself or by an authority ordained by Him. In contrast to these, vengeance (i.e. to revenge) is malicious retaliation against a perceived or real offence committed by someone or a group of people. It involves the reciprocation of an injury or insult by an aggrieved person. Whenever evil is deliberately committed against someone, the immediate human instinct is to take revenge, especially if the victim is capable of inflicting a corresponding injury on the offender. However, the lifestyle of God’s kingdom teaches that it is wrong to strike back or return evil for evil, whether by immediate retaliation or by deferred action of vengeance. As a citizens of heaven, we must learn to leave such matters in the hands of the Great Avenger, because the Bible insists that revenge is unacceptable to God (Proverbs 24:29, Romans 12:19).

God’s word offers us some definitive ways of dealing with the carnal desire for vengeance. First of all, we are advised to be slow to anger, because anger is at the root of every drive for revenge. We are to thoughtfully respond to situations that can lead to anger after hearing from the Holy Spirit, who resides in us (Ecclesiastes 7:9). We should also desist from plotting revenge in response to any wrongdoing committed against us. The Almighty God wants us to see the vengeance as His exclusive responsibility (Romans 12:19). He also wants us renounce anger and put it away from our minds completely (Psalm 37:8, Ephesians 4:31). May the Prince of peace send His peace like a river into your life to quench every fire of anger before it graduates into vengeance in Jesus’ Name.

Leaving matter in the hands of God and waiting for His judgement are acts of faith that demonstrate trust in God rather than human ability. That’s why children of God must not consider taking revenge or repaying evil with evil; rather, we must wait for the Lord in all situations. Persecuted and oppressed Christians must never rely on what human strength can do for them. Instead, they must pray earnestly with total reliance on the word of God, as seen in Psalm 94:1-2 and Lamentations 3:64-66. I decree that the Great Avenger will rise on your behalf today and render recompense to those who have oppressed you. God will judge your persecutors according to the work of their hands, and He will give them sorrow of heart until they are completely destroyed in Jesus’ Name. God will not rest until He has avenged you of all your enemies in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.