And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the children of Israel. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.” (vv.1-2)
The Midianites were a 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).
We are generally uncomfortable with the idea of vengeance because it doesn’t seem consistent with God’s love. Yet, in the right context, vengeance is something good that God is interested in. The Scriptures repeatedly speak of the vengeance of God as a positive thing. Evil comes when we take vengeance into our own hands.
In this circumstance, Israel was in a unique place – with a special call to be an instrument of God’s vengeance. This is something no person should take upon themselves today. Vengeance belongs to God, not to man. Can God use man as His instrument of authority? Absolutely! And when He does, we as Christians can be at peace, knowing that good has been done when vengeance has been executed.
The Truth: "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay." (Deuteronomy 32:35)
