Vengeance Belongs To God

Leave Revenge in His Hand!

I'm one of those people that refuses to take revenge. I never defend myself. It's my rule. I allow people to gossip, lie, and talk about me.

You will never find me in gossip groups on purpose. Let me explain what I mean by on purpose. Unfortunately, for me, and I'm sure you have been there, too. I have had to deal being a part of committees where these things happened. However, I refused to be a part of their get-together outside my committee, and I told them "I am not coming to your get-together because I don't participate in gossip!" That statement got me into huge trouble, as I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, I was now officially, on their hit list to destroy.

Read this verse and you will understand why I feel sorry for them.

"May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you." -1 Samuel 24:12

My children have been taught by me to keep quiet and let God defend them. My constant outcry to them is "Keep your hands clean." I tell them "Let God defend you. He does it a lot better then you." This doesn't mean you allow bullying; this means you walk away from the situation and let them talk, talk, talk! I'm giving you the same advice today.

Before becoming a king, David had many enemies who not just tried to destroy his reputation but they were out to kill him. They wanted him dead. Wow! No wonder God relates gossip to murder. It begins from jealousy that, then, turns to hate. Are you following this pattern carefully? Do you see all these things begin with a spirit of jealously? Look at the destructive path it takes finally ending in evil!

King David had the right attitude. Immediately, he looked to his God to help him. "May the Lord judge between you and I." The minute he said that, God moved in. He stepped out of the way. Allowing the Judge of all judges, who actually knows every thought, and intention of the heart of every person. David wanted no part of what was sinful. He knew if he got involved he would end up sinning too. He took the wise road, established by the wise men of old. We all know the victory God gave King David over ALL his enemies.

God wants to do same for you and me. We need to keep our hands clean. It's hard to do, believe me. But we don't walk alone. We have a God who is a just judge. He rules fairly and he will not let the wicked win forever.

Let me share a personal story. I was just out of college. My first job. The company wanted me so badly, they had to buy my contract from another company I was working for. I had just started less then a month. The chair of that department saw my work. She called me for an interview. She told me, "name your price I want you here. Whatever you want I will give you." I told her, "Well, I am going to ask you give me standard salary that's given to anyone in this position." She was shocked, "She asked me again. "You don't understand. I'm willing to pay you beyond what normal pay is. Name your price." I told her I understood the first time, and I was responding in the same way. I did ask for an additional one week of vacation as I had plans to leave the country. I told her I would take it without pay. She hired me on the spot, she gave me a salary that was more then what I was making, and gave me an extra week of paid vacation. That was her decision not mine. In addition, she had to pay my contract from the company I had just signed to work for. She paid several thousand dollars to the company I was working for to get me. You would think that was going to be an amazing opportunity. It didn't turn out that way.

Six months into my job, this woman, who paid a ridiculous amount of money to buy out my contract and told me whatever I wanted, now began to hate me. She went as far as telling the rest of the staff if they talked to me they would be fired. I had to deal with this for two weeks. Finally, I gave my resignation. I wanted to leave immediately; the workplace became hostile. God told me, "I don't want you to say one negative word. You are not to defend yourself. You are to walk in love no matter what is done to you. I will protect you. You will not be harmed through this. I am with you!"

The two weeks were hell. The president of the company called me into his office, and asked, "What is the real reason you are leaving here. Please tell me the truth. I promise you I will protect you. Your job, I assure you, is safe with me. Please you are respected and loved by me and my directors. Everyone talks highly of you. I want you to stay, and I will see to it you are protected."

I was sitting in his office and praying in my mind for God to give me wisdom for what to say. I'm telling you, immediately, I heard, "Tell him you respect him, and you love the company, but that I told you, 'you are not to say a word!"

Ok, folks, I was there for six months. This man didn't know me, so now I'm telling him God wants me not to say a word about why I'm leaving. Please don't think I'm strange or weird. I have to do what God is asking. He kindly told me, "Your character is without question admired by me, your reputation impeccable. You are truly admired and loved by me, and my staff. I will not ask you further. I understand more then you think. Where are you going?" I didn't have a job so I told him nowhere for now. He told me if I changed my mind he would create a position for me. He would personally make any phone calls as a reference.

Then came the day I was leaving. It was 4:25 pm. He came to me and asked if I would do a personal favor and cover the phones in my department. I told him no problem.

He called my entire department into the conference room. They all went in first. He came and stood in the door. Before going in, he turned around and smiled at me. He was there for five minutes. He came out first, came in front of me, winked at me, and went back to his office. Little by little everyone was coming out crying, not talking to me. Then the last woman came, and this time, with a message my boss wanted to see me. I was so scared. I was telling God in prayer that I had enough. If she yelled at me again, I was done. I would tell her exactly what I thought of her.

I walked into the conference room where she was crying. She said immediately, "I'm scared, Teresa, I need you to pray for me. We were all fired today. We have to leave immediately. This department has been shut down." Talk about shock. I could hardly move, never mind talk. The president just let go the entire department. This woman who made my life hell was just fired. She wanted me to pray for her now. All of a sudden, I felt this intense love and compassion for her. I walked to where she was sitting, fell to my knees, and prayed for her. She hugged me, apologized for her behavior, and I never saw her again.

As I was leaving, the president came out of his office. He hugged me and told me that my six and a half months working there had made a huge impact in his life and that I was welcomed there if I changed my mind. Mind you he just fired everyone in the department I was working in.

Everyone in my circle knows this story. It's not new to them. We often discuss it as it reminds us of this verse I'm discussing here today.

Listen, God will judge and He will repay accordingly. This why our hands must always be clean before Him. Walk away, keep clean, don't take revenge. Let it go. God will avenge and make your righteousness stand out.

#TopicArticle #revenge #adversity #cleanhands #jealousy