Daily Devotional for Saturday, May 3

The Day of Vengeance

“For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come,” Isaiah 63:4.

October 7, 2023, is a day burned in my memory. Thousands of innocent Jewish men, women and children were massacred by Hamas terrorists in the most heinous attack on civilians in modern history. The atrocities committed that day are unspeakable. Not since the days of Nazi Germany and Hitler’s attempts to exterminate the Jewish people, have we seen such barbaric, inhumane acts committed against God’s chosen people. Unfortunately, the vile acts committed against Israel through the ages are too numerous to list. Satan and his forces have used every scheme imaginable to annihilate them. The rise in antisemitism recently proves Satan is still attempting to do so today. 

          Everyone of God’s enemies have one thing in common—pride. Unrepentant pride leads to contempt, which eventually leads to hatred. The nations that surround Israel today, hate Israel and have pledged to irradicate the Israelites from the face of the earth. 

            But God! The vision Isaiah described in today’s Scripture passage is one of righteous vindication. Standing at the border between Israel and Edom to the south, Isaiah sees Jesus, the Redeemer of Israel, in blood-stained garments, returning from the judgment He has taken on Edom and all the evil nations of the world. “For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke” (Isaiah 59:17). 

            One day soon, God will execute judgment on all His enemies and will avenge Himself of every evil act ever committed, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:8).

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Thankfully, those who know Christ as Savior will not endure God’s wrath. God’s wrath has been reserved for His enemies. Do you know Jesus as your personal Savior, or are you His enemy?

Karen Meigs