Vengeance ( Matthew 5 v 39 - 48 )

In Numbers 25 we read how the people of God became involved with the foreign people ,particularly the women and their immoral practise's they were possibly Baal-shrine prostitutes .It became very serious and God judged Israel by sending a plague,in which 24,000 had died.The Midianites were behind it ,it is thought that the king of Midian had taken  Balaam's advice (Numbers 31 v 16 ).The result was God was going to judge the Midianites. In Numbers 31 we read how God told Moses to raise an army,a thousand from each tribe and take vengeance on them for what they had done. Moses raised the army,and Israel fought against them and defeated them,Balaam for his crimes paid with his life.This was not Israel taken vengeance,  it was God taken vengeance. It is in  Romans 12 we read, 'Do not take revenge,my friends,but leave room for God's wrath,as it is written ; ''It is mine to avenge, I will repay,'' says the Lord. On the contrary. ''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'' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.