Give Place to Wrath

Isn’t it interesting that you can read a Bible verse many times and one day you think, “What does that even mean?!”  This is that verse today:

“Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay,” says the Lord. 

What does it mean to “give place to wrath?” I had to look it up in Blue Letter Bible app (a handy tool that has Greek and Hebrew meanings). “Give place” means “to make space for or to create room for.” When someone comes to us full of anger which erupts all over us, we’re to create room for that. Isn’t that interesting?

This is God’s way…not the world’s way (especially not today)! The Lord then goes on to tell us HE will repay. He’ll handle it. He will avenge us. All we have to do is make space for the anger. In the very next breath, Jesus  tells us to feed our enemy (he isn’t afraid to call them what they are) or give them a drink. This will heap coals of fire on his head—or he’ll remember his sins. 

This passage ISN’T saying we should make room for an abusive relationship. This is a person coming to you “loaded for bear”—convinced they’re right and you’re wrong. And they unload in anger. Make room for that. Don’t respond. Leave it hanging in that space. Meet a need in their life later and they’ll remember their sin…and hopefully repent.  

God’s way isn’t our way. It’s higher than our way. What happens if we respond with the same level of anger as theirs? They walk away feeling justified and will probably never be convinced they were wrong. We didn’t make space for God to work. We handled it…badly. 

Do it God’s way. Give Him room to work.