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“Getting Even” Tolstoy
wrote about an honest and hardworking Russian peasant who spent the night in a
local inn. A man was killed and the murderer placed the weapon in the bag of the
sleeping peasant. The police discovered it and put the hapless peasant in jail.
For twenty-six years he survived the harsh conditions of prison on the bitter
hope that someday he would obtain revenge. One
day the real murderer was placed in the same prison and later charged with
attempting to escape. He had been digging a tunnel and the peasant was the only
witness. At long last the opportunity plotted for since that villainous night
twenty-six years ago presented itself, for on the peasant’s word the murderer
would be put to death. If it were you… what would you do? “Don’t get mad… get even!” is our chanted mantra. Maybe an employer treated you unfairly or a coworker climbed to the top over your back. A spouse deserted you when needed most. Your parents failed you. You were “done wrong” as they say and waiting for a chance to retaliate. “Don’t get mad… get even” is a reasonable response in the face of gross unfairness, isn’t it? No! God
calls it vengeance and has a lot to say about it. “Dear
friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written,
“I will take vengeance;”
(Romans 12:19) I don’t like God’s emphasis on “never avenge.” I
would say… usually. I would want exceptions for extreme examples like our
Russian peasant, but not God. A good Biblical case study would be David.
King Saul was insanely jealous
of David’s increasing popularity and eventually stripped him of his job, his
wife, his best friend and his self-respect, finally forcing him to flee for
safety. For years not days, Saul pursued David looking to exterminate him. But
then…”Saul went into a cave to
relieve himself. But as it happened, David and his men were hiding in that very
cave!” (1 Samuel 24:3) Again,
if it were you… what would you do? “’Now’s your opportunity!’
David’s men whispered to him… Then David crept forward and cut off a piece
of Saul’s robe.” (4-5) Why did David do that? Saul was trying to kill
him. Why didn’t David get even? Instead, he crept close to Saul and performed
the equivalent of a teenage prank or practical joke. Even that small act of
defiance made David feel guilty. “The LORD knows I shouldn’t have done
it,” he said to his men.” (6) In
the military, it is drilled into you: ‘salute the rank… not the person.’
Saul was anointed by God to be King. David was duty bound to treat the King with
respect and honor. David wisely chose mercy and to confront Saul with truth. As
he left the cave, David appeared and held up a piece of his robe. “This
proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you,
even though you have been hunting for me to kill me. The LORD will decide
between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to
me, but I will never harm you.” (11-12) David’s
refusal to succumb to the temptation of “getting even” was a turning point
because he chose to do what was right by repaying evil with good. “If your
enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to
drink… Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing
good.” (Romans 12:20-21) David ultimately chose to place his faith in God
not revenge. Speaking
of turning points… the Russian peasant had his own opportunity to “get
even” with the man who ruined his life. But instead of jumping at the chance,
the story describes the peasant as experiencing the overpowering grace and love
of God. The darkness that was within him was suddenly filled with light and the
peasant found himself saying to the officers: “I saw nothing.” That
night the murderer approached the peasant and on his knees begged for
forgiveness. Again, the light of Christ flooded the peasant’s heart: “God
will forgive you. Maybe I am a hundred times worse.” And at those words
the peasant’s heavy heart grew light as he received God’s comfort. I don’t know of any better witness to your faith in God than a willingness to forgive someone who has grievously harmed you. Is it easy? Never! Is it necessary and worthwhile? Absolutely! Your willingness to forgive could be the principal turning point in your life, your health and your faith. More Turning Points: Jacob & Reconciliation Moses & Failure |