Nahum 1:1-8; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9; Romans 12:19

Vengeance is defined as payback or retribution for something that someone has done wrong. Some people say they don’t want a God who is vengeful. But it’s possible these people are deceiving themselves and they really do want a God who is vengeful and deals out justice. Just look at the current number 1 movie, soon to be number 1 all-time, Avengers: Endgame. The movie is about heroes who are taking vengeance on the villian on behalf of the universe. People may say they don’t want a vengeful God, but the evidence in our culture indicates otherwise.

God is an avenging God. Vengeance means God brings justice and punishes evil. Today we look at three Bible passages that explain God’s vengeance.

Nahum 1:1-8

Nahum’s prophecy is about the city of Nineveh. Another book about this city is Jonah. These people returned to their evil, and now Nahum says they will be destroyed. God can use natural disasters and wars to exercise His vengeance. … The people of Nineveh were cruel people and did detestable acts. However, in the book of Jonah, God sends a prophet to warn the city that He would destroy them unless they repented. They repented and God relented, showing His mercy. Then about 150 years later, Nahum has a new message for the people of Nineveh. Nahum starts out by saying God is slow to anger, telling us that anger and vengeance are not the first of His attributes to be revealed. His wrath is great and terrifying. But God also is merciful and extends grace, but that mercy and grace looks even more welcoming with His wrath in the background. After stating these attributes of God, Nahum prophesied that Nineveh will be destroyed and doesn’t give an option for repentance and mercy. The people of Nineveh, the Assyrians, no longer exist today.

2 Thessalonians 1:6-9

The vengeance of God in this present world is uneven and incomplete. But there is coming an endgame to His vengeance. When Jesus returns, He will take vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey to His Gospel. … In our world, some crimes go unpunished. Sometimes innocents are punished with or in place of the guilty. Endgame spoilers: In Endgame the forces of Thanos gather on one side of the battlefield and the Avengers gather on the other side. Using time travel, they were able to bring back those who died in the previous movie. When Jesus returns the dead will rise and join Him and He take vengeance on those who do not know Him.

Romans 12:19

Christians must not take revenge. We must leave room for God’s wrath Because of the vengeance of God, we can let go of bitterness, trust God’s justice, and pray for our enemies. … Whenever we try to take vengeance into our own hands it turns into revenge, which involves more personal feelings and emotions. Paul quotes Deuteronomy here and tells us that vengeance belongs to God and that we should leave it to Him. This allows us to let go of bitterness.