One of the most damaging effects of suffering some great evil is the unresolved injustice of the situation. It is damaging because invariably we hold onto it and we end up slowly roasting on the coals of our own anger over what has happened. There is only one solution to such a situation: it is to relinquish the right to redress injustice to God. It is God’s divine prerogative to judge, as God says to Moses: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay” (Deuteronomy 32:35). The desire to play judge and take vengeance into one’s own hands will always bring great bitterness and turmoil to the heart. In Romans 12:19 the apostle Paul quotes from this verse in Deuteronomy right after saying, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”. That’s why these oracles are comforting, because when you recognise that vengeance is God’s business alone, you can live in peace. You don’t therefore need to lie awake at night roasting on coals of your own anger. Instead, Paul goes on to say (in a quote from Proverbs 25:21-22): “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:20). This is the only way to get your heart off the burning coals of vengefulness: “Overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). So be comforted by these oracles about Nineveh because they show that God is good at doing his job. You can therefore peacefully focus on doing yours.
Pray for someone who has hurt or offended you.
Read Nahum 2
