Before You Hurt Them Because They Hurt You, Do This

On A Personal Note

Have you ever watched someone “spoil everything” because they’re upset? You offended them or someone in their family and the response is so over the top you find yourself stunned. I have. You hurt me, so I hurt you – more! But our retaliation can ruin everything.

The Text Message

In Gen. 34:13-29 Jacob’s sons are responding to a legitimate offense. Someone hurt their sister. But when our response to an offense is in the flesh, we make a bigger mess.

We know this.

Hurt people can hurt people – more! Two wrongs won’t make things right, but it will give our religion a bad name. When they know you’re Christian how you respond to offenses can leave others stunned.

Jacob’s sons used the most significant sign of their faith to retaliate and repay an offense. We risk doing this too. We might use God’s word out of context to justify our [over]reaction.

Maybe we say, “You’re a Christian, you must forgive me”, without showing genuine repentance ourselves. Or we tell others about God’s grace while giving others law.

These are the missteps that loosen the stone that leads to a landslide. Our retaliation runs the risk of being the greater sin: You settled the score – and more (v. 27-29):

They stole [stuff, reputation, well-being] and then, spoiled – everything! Before your misstep that brings victims to your doorstep (v. 30), listen to God who’s with you every step and misstep (35:1).

Let’s Take the Message Home

Do this instead: Trust God with the hard stuff. Micah 6:8 offers a template when we’re tempted to retaliate: 1) Do what God says, 2) give what you’d hope to receive, 3) stay humble and close to Jesus.

Before you “spoil everything”, write down where offenses (hurts) you or your loved ones have endured are causing you to hurt yourself and others – more. Give them to God in prayer.

Use Micah 6:8 and talk to Jesus about how you can do right by God, show mercy to others, and stay humble. He’s with you every step and you can trust Him with every hurt. I’m praying for you.

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