Pay Backs Are Tough

O. T. #357  "Pay Backs Are Tough"
Sept. 4, 2014
Numbers 31-Part 1
And the LORD said to Moses, "Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites." So Moses said to the people,  "Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites and to carry out the LORD's vengeance on them."  Numbers 31:1-2 NIV

LET IT GLOW

There are some mean people who need to be paid back for the awfully mean things they have done and are doing to me. Someone needs to make them pay. Yet, I can't pay them back. God won't allow me to do it. I must wait on His revenging hand, timing, wisdom, and mercy. Justice will be had. May I add, God usually takes it further and far worse than I ever would have. Pay backs are tough. I am responsible to forgive them and  love them in spite of everything. A hard row to hoe.

We read here about the destruction of Midian. I found some background on this group of people.

The Midianites were descendants of Abraham through his wife Keturah (Gen. 25:2). Some forty years earlier, Moses (a descendant of Abraham through Sarah) had married a Midianite, Zipporah. but in the ensuing years, this tribe had degenerated until they were no different from a dozen other pagan desert people.  (Falwell)

The Midianites were nomadic people, at this time associated with the people of Moab. God commanded they be attacked in retribution for their seduction of Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry (Numbers 25:1-18). (Guzik)

The Midianites were a large confederation of tribes, associated with various smaller groups...They roamed through the arid lands of Sinai, the Negeb, and Transjordan. Here it is those Midianites associated with Moab that are picked out for vengeance. (Wenham)

In verse 2, the LORD told Moses to avenge, take vengeance, on the Midianites for Israel. Again, in verse 3, He instructs Israel to go against the Midianites and avenge the LORD of Midian, carry out the LORD's vengeance on them.

The King James Bible uses the word avenge, which means to punish, take vengeance; charge, deliver up, thrust, pay.
The New International Version of the Bible uses vengeance, which refers to vindication, retribution, punishment.

In Romans 12: 19, Paul says, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay," saith the Lord.

Paul is quoting Deuteronomy 32:35, To Me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; 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.

In the Blackabys' Experiencing God Day By Day Devotional, they say:

One of the hardest areas in which to trust God is in the matter of justice. When we perceive an injustice, we want to see the guilty party punished. We want justice to prevail, especially if we are the victim. We become impatient if we are not avenged quickly. Yet God warns us that vengeance is not our prerogative. We are to desire justice, but we are not to seek vengeance (Micah 6:8). When someone offends us, our responsibility is to respond to the offense with forgiveness (Matt. 5:44). God takes the responsibility to see that justice is done. God loves people too much to allow sin to go unchecked. If we are impatient and seek revenge, we presume that we are wiser than God, and we reveal a blatant lack of trust that God will do the right thing. If we refuse to trust God's justice, we become enslaved to bitterness and anger. We must guard our hearts and trust God to exercise His judgment against those who oppose Him.

I could not have said it better. What more could I say about this subject?
The hard part is to forgive these people and love them in spite of it all. Ohhhh so hard.
Are you with me? Let's make the right choice-focus on Jesus instead of those people.


LET IT GROW

Now we know who Israel was sent to kill. Before the battle, God has the Israeli army comprised of 12,000 soldiers, a 1,000 of each tribe ready. Phinehas, the priest, was to lead the charge with the holy instruments and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

Liberty Bible Commentary tells us:
Priests were called the "anointed of the battle."
They gave the army three facts:

1. The Lord goes with you.
2. He will fight for you.
3. He will save you. Victory by Israel was dependent upon Israel's obedience to God.

Are you fighting a battle today, friend? Take to heart, God goes with you, for He never leaves us. He will fight for you, if you will let Him do the fighting. He will give you victory over this battle, so give Him the glory for doing it.

In Matthew 5:44, Jesus says: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.

Easy words to type and read. Hard words to apply.
The words of an old hymn comes to my mind- Trusting Jesus that is all. Trusting Jesus whether great or small. Trusting Jesus, through it all. Trusting Jesus, that is all.


LET IT GO

Forgive those who hurt me, so bitterness does not grow in my heart.

Leave the vengeance to God.

Focus on my blessings and praise God for them.