God of Vengeance

Is God, the One True God of Heaven, a God of Vengeance?

Absolutely! I was talking with my neighbors this past weekend that live right behind me, my daughter's good friend's house to return their dog since he was playing with my dog Buddie.

As God opened the door of evangelism to witness to this couple, I thanked God for the opportunity since this was the audience I had prayed for and got it when I least expected it. Some of the greatest opportunities to share the Gospel has been when I was least expecting or prepared to share it but God is faithful. 1 Peter 3:15 says, "But sanctify the Lord in your heart: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." This only hope, is Jesus alone.

What the wife mentioned to me was surprising. "I don't believe that God is a God of vengenance." Really I thought? You say you read the Bible but never understood that God is a God of vengeance? The Old Testament is riddled with a vengeful God toward sin, satan, and all wickedness and evil in all its forms from the weakest peasant to the mightiest Kings of the earth. The New Testament also supports this. But why you may ask? Why would God be vengeful?

God is Holy and He is the Creator in this universe and we and all that is in the earth is his created. When we rebelled against his solemn command to "not eat of the fruit....." in the Garden, sin then entered into the world (Romans 5:12) through our rebellious hearts. Sin is unholy and can not be in his presence. Does God not have a right to cause justice unto himself for rebellion from humanity against himself? Does God not have a right to judge against his enemies even Satan and the third of the angels that also rebelled against him in heaven? Absolutely! Let us hear what God has to say on this matter.

Old Testament: thus saith the LORD...
Deuteronomy 32:35-36 To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. For the LORD shall judge his people,....

Deuteronomy 32:41-42 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy.

Isaiah 34:2, 8 For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance,....

Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.

Psalm 94:1-3 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, show thyself. Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

New Testament the same continuing theme:
Romans 3:5-6 ...Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man). God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Romans 12:19-20 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

It is apparent that my neighbor never read and/or believed these passages of scripture. There are so many more that I could have written down but didn't.

What would have stopped God from destroying us in his vengeance upon all the rebellious enemies of his creation? Nothing! Were it not for the Love of God. God so loved us....he wanted to make a way of escape for us.... from his required wrath, hot anger of righteous justice against us. How did he provide that for us?

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

That's how! That's the loving, restraining, long-suffering heart of God our Father to give all that He had to save us from deserving hell. What more could he have done? He gives his son, his only son to be allowed to be tortured then nailed to a cruel wicked cross for who? For us his enemies!

Thank God that God is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance 2 Peter 3:9

Can you see it friend? God is Vengeance but will remove that vengeance forever against anyone who is willing to ask for forgiveness of their sins against him and ask Jesus His Son to save them. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13 Amen