In the wake of the Baal Peor incident, God instructs Moses, "Avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites" (Num 31:2).
In a sermon at Church of the Messiah on August 15, 2026, Kyle Kettering pointed out that the words "vengeance" and "avenge" carry negative connotations for us. Even when we're righteously indignant about an injustice in the world, we should not carry out personal vengeance. As God instructs the Israelites in Leviticus 19:18, "You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people."
Kyle pointed out that in the Bible, the words for "justice" and "vengeance" are related. This is reflected in our English translations. For example, the Greek word ekdikesis has God "inflicting vengeance" in 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and "giving justice" in Luke 18:7-8 in the ESV. When God "takes vengeance" he brings justice, setting things right and vindicating the innocent.
But vengeance is something that is strictly God's prerogative. "Vengeance is mine, I will repay," God says in Deuteronomy 32:35, a sentence later quoted in Romans 12:19. As the psalmist often does, we can pray for justice and leave the matter in God's hands (Psalm 94:1-2, e.g.)
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