The God Who Avenges

“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Romans 12:19.

We often speak of God as loving, kind, and merciful, and rightly so. But Scripture also reveals another aspect of His nature: God is a God of justice, and He will avenge the wrongs done against His people.

God’s vengeance is not like human revenge, emotional, impulsive, or cruel. His vengeance is holy. It flows from His perfect justice and deep covenant love for His people.

In Exodus 15:3, after delivering Israel from Egypt, Moses declares: “The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name.” The Red Sea did not only part for Israel; it closed over Pharaoh’s army in judgment.

This is because God defends what is His. When His people are oppressed, mistreated, or attacked, He takes it personally.

Consider the story of Hezekiah and Sennacherib in 2 Kings 19. The Assyrian king mocked God and threatened Jerusalem. Hezekiah prayed, and God responded, not with negotiation, but with vengeance. That night, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 in the Assyrian camp.

This is because God is not silent when His name is blasphemed or His people are threatened.

This is a comfort for us today. You don’t need to fight every battle in your own strength. You don’t need to seek revenge. God sees, God knows, and God will act, in His time and in His way.

His vengeance is perfect justice, ans not spite. He is patient, but sure. His judgment is final, and righteous.

So if you’ve been wronged, slandered, betrayed, or oppressed, don’t carry the burden of retaliation. Give it to God. His justice never fails.

Lord, thank You that You are not only merciful but just. I lay down the weight of revenge and trust in Your perfect judgment. Rise, O Lord, and defend Your name and Your people. Amen.