Did you hear the story about the mother who ran into the bedroom when she heard her seven-year-old son scream? She found her two-year-old daughter pulling her brother's hair. She gently released the little girl's grip and said comfortingly to the boy, "There, there. She didn't mean it. She doesn't know that hurts." He nodded his acknowledgement, and she left the room.
As she started down the hall the little girl screamed. Rushing back in, she asked, "What happened?"
The little boy replied, "She knows now that it hurts."
How quickly we seek revenge against those who hurt us. Yet, as believers, revenge is never an option that is part of God's will. "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse....Never pay back evil for evil to anyone....Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:14,17,19,21).
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3 comments:
In researching the "the eye for an eye" origination, the Scriptures never actually say how God avenged Cain 7 times . . .
God is so awesome! HE inspired the HOLY BIBLE scriptures whereas "the human heart" can justify whatever it desires -- even with verse(s) taken out of the context &/or not taking the message of Jesus into account. God , then, judges the heart (which in turn emphasizes why we should accept HIS Only begotten Son with whom HE is well pleased within “our” heart – allowing for the Holy Spirit to train us up in righteousness through confirmation and conviction).
God didn't return "like punishment” for Cain's murder of Adam. Quite the contrary, HE marked Cain whereas no one else would kill him. However, God didn’t let Cain’s sin go unpunished. God cursed the ground that Cain worked and banned him from HIS sight; (which still doesn’t account for the seven times).
One might be able to see that the sins of the father (Cain) were carried over in his inheritance line. It took 6 children before the 7th child was a Cain's look-a-like or name sake. However, God’s vengeances against Cain still isn’t reconciled with the seven because of the listed punishments. However, Lamech (Cain’s son who likewise killed a man) stated that God would avenged him 77 times. There is direct opposition of the 77 times of vengeance versus the 77 times of forgiveness that Jesus taught.
Luke & Matthew have a discrepancy regarding the line of David to Jesus. Luke has 77 generations; whereas, Matthew does not. The term “generation” isn’t actually defined with scripture. Some view a generation as 40 years; whereas others count from parent to child as a generation. Still others, say it’s 10 years. Therefore, the sins of the father definition must coincide with the blessings of the righteous definition. Seth (Abel’s replacement) is the Biblical lineage of Jesus.
Man’s law prior to the 10 commandments was retaliation; whereas, God’s glory prior to 10 Commandments was in sacrifice (symbolizing man’s desire to please God). Mankind understood and feared the "eye for a eye" concept.
Using a dictionary defintion of vengeance "punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense," aren't there times when you should retaliate for things done to you? Or is it more of a situation of trying to right the wrong, but not punish the wrong-doer?
There is a biblical distinction between righteous anger and unrighteous anger. Plus, there are multiple examples in OT law of prescribed restitution when someone violates some someone else or his property. I don't think Scripture prohibits our self-defense (even of our property). I think you hit the nail on the head with your last sentence--"Or is it more of a situation of trying to right the wrong, but not punish the wrong-doer?"
The point of my blog (and I think the point of Scripture) is that we don't seek to hurt someone else just because they hurt us. The Christian position is not "you hit me, so I hit you back." We shouldn't return evil for evil.
Thanks for reading and commenting...
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