AP

Numbers 35:20-21 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer.  The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.

As I read through Numbers 35 to find a verse on which to comment, it struck me afresh what a difference Jesus has made to our sad, sad world.  Wherever his teaching has been embraced wholeheartedly, societies experience the blessing it brings, but where societies organise themselves on [fallen] human ‘wisdom’ they suffer the destructive consequences.

I am talking about the fundamental difference between having ‘love/forgiveness’ as the guiding principle and having ‘payback/revenge’ as the guiding principle.  Last week I wrote an article on ‘Forgiveness’ based on Tim & Kathy Keller’s devotional on Proverbs 20:3 and 29:23 in their book, ‘The Way of Wisdom’.  They summed up their comments with these words: “So our culture will continue to grow in ‘strife’.  ‘Most of us have been formed by a culture that nourishes revenge and mocks grace.’.  Again we see that it is the height of dignity not to always be standing on one’s dignity.  Ironically, the person most quick to defend himself comes off looking weak.”

Numbers 35 spells out the need for God’s justice to be satisfied in line with the “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” priniple of the Mosaic Law (Exodus 21:23-27; Leviticus 24:19-20 & Deuteronomy 19:21), as well as emphasising the value our Creator places on all human life.

Jesus, of course, upheld this principle, but because he came to fully satisfy God’s justice through his own death on the cross, He was able to teach: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’  But I tell you, do not resist an evil person.  If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.  You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:38-39, & 43-45).

All this drives me to my knees in prayer that we will soon see the promises of Psalm 72 fulfilled around us.  Isaac Watts expounds the message of Psalm 72 in his wonderful hymn:

“Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does its successive journeys run, his kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.  To him shall endless prayer be made, and praises throng to crown his head.  His name like sweet perfume shall rise with every morning sacrifice.  People and realms of every tongue dwell on his love with sweetest song, and infant voices shall proclaim their early blessings on his name.  Blessings abound where’er he reigns: the prisoners leap to lose their chains, the weary find eternal rest, and all who suffer want are blest.  Let every creature rise and bring the highest honours to our King; angels descend with songs again and earth repeat the loud ‘Amen’.

Let us all pray that we will see this happening through the  spresd of the Gospel of Jesus among us, and especially in places like the Middle East and North Africa where the necessity for revenge seems to be the ‘order of the day’!

– Bruce Christian