September 16, 2001

A NATION IN CRISIS

DOES GOD TAKE VENGEANCE TODAY?

   Did not God take vengeance when "the wickedness of man was great in the earth..." and send the flood such that "the end of all flesh" was at hand? (Gen. 6:5,13) Enoch prophesied and Noah preached righteousness, yet only eight availed themselves of the provision of grace.

   God had delivered the people of Sodom and all their substance through Abraham's army. Yet when they later turned to unspeakable wickedness did He not take vengeance on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah sending fire from heaven "and took them all away"?

   Did not God take vengeance when the wickedness of the Canaanites was finally full and send Israel 's army with instructions to leave nothing alive of man or beast? (See Joshua 6:21)

   God promised a "day of vengeance" upon Israel for killing the prophets and slaying those God sent with His messages. Even with all the past devastation that nation has endured God has still has promised that Israel will yet pay double for all her sins! (Jer. 16:18)

   The Lord Jesus stopped short of announcing this day of vengeance in Luke 4:19 when He quoted Isa. 61:1 and quit in the middle of the verse! The day of vengeance could not be while the Lord Jesus went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil.

   Today God is dispensing the riches of His grace to all the world. He has set aside the Law of Moses even toward Israel and is "not imputing their trespasses" (2 Cor. 5:18). He sends forth the gospel of grace offering amnesty; forgiveness, pardon, and peace to every rebel, no matter how wicked. Christ's death is now proclaimed as the divine remedy for man's sins. Today we are to participate in this ministry of grace by giving our enemies food and drink. God has said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" (Rom. 12:20). We are to leave all retribution and vengeance to the government, "for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil" (13:4).

In unbelief men still "treasure up wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Rom. 2:5) Who "has commanded all men everywhere to repent because He has appointed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He has ordained, whereof He has given assurance to all men in that He has raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31).

Ivan L. Burgener