The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 19 August 2024 — Vengeance Belongs To God
TOPIC: Vengeance Belongs To God
READ: Genesis 34:25-31 (NKJV)
- Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males.
- And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah from Shechem’s house, and went out.
- The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and plundered the city, because their sister had been defiled.
- They took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys, what [was] in the city and what [was] in the field,
- and all their wealth. All their little ones and their wives they took captive; and they plundered even all that [was] in the houses.
- Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have troubled me by making me obnoxious among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and since I [am] few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and kill me. I shall be destroyed, my household and I.”
- But they said, “Should he treat our sister like a harlot?”
THE MESSAGE:
Dinah had been raped and abducted by Shechem and the men of the city being privy to the plot to take over Jacob’s wealth, condoned it (verses 25-29). What should Jacob do than to hold his peace and think deeply as an aged man? (verse 5). Any attempt to take revenge would make me stink among the inhabitants of the land, and being few in number, they would gather against me and slay me, Jacob thought (verse 30). But for Simeon and Levi, Shechem and all involved in this reproachable act could not go scot-free. They took revenge, and doubled the sins committed by Shechem. “Should he treat our sister as a harlot?” was the ground upon which they justified their cruel act, when reprimanded by their father.
God’s word for us remains unshaken: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord (Romans 12: 19). We do not have any reason whatsoever to justify taking God’s position on vengeance. Jacob at the verge of his dying, dissociated himself from this cruel act (Genesis 49: 5-7). But could his children have folded their hands and do nothing? No! You better arise and commit your grievances unto the righteous Judge (1 Peter 2: 23). Hand the matter over to God in prayers!
PRAYER: Help me Lord, to trust Your righteous judgment against the wicked.
PRAYER POINTS ON TODAY’S DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL
DATE: MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 2024
TOPIC: VENGEANCE BELONGS TO GOD
- Father in the name of Jesus, thank You for the grace to see this day in good health and sound mind.
- Father, thank You for the special gift of life, many wished to see this day, but they couldn’t.
- Thank You Jesus for being there for us, Your children.
- Thank You Lord for Your plans for me this month and this year. They are plans of good, not of evil, to give me a successful and good end.
- Father, please forgive me all my known and unknown sins, and give me power to overcome sin and its lustful desires, in Jesus’ name
- Holy Spirit, help me to learn to hold my peace always, in the name of Jesus.
- Father, please continue to fight my battles for me as I learnt to hold my peace, in Jesus’ name
- Heavenly Father, scatter every evil plot against me and my household, in Jesus’ name
- I refuse to take laws into my hands no matter the situation, in Jesus’ name.
- Help me Lord, to trust Your righteous judgement against the wicked, in Jesus’ name.
- LORD, help us to get it right in Nigeria, and let Your perfect will be enforced on us in Jesus’ name.
- Heavenly Father, let Your peace reign in this country,
- Whether the devil likes it or not, I will make heaven and receive my eternal rewards in Jesus’ Name.
- This is the day the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.
- Personal and family prayer requests.
- Confession: God bless the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), God bless the Universal Church, and bless our country Nigeria -1 Chronicles 17:27.
- Thank You Lord for answered prayers, in Jesus’ Mighty Name we pray. Amen.
