Seventy times seven

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

Loneliness is an arch enemy of mankind. It is a silent killer. It caused many people to terminate their own lives. Loneliness has caused  many humans to commit many atrocities.

As a result of the evil works of this arch-enemy of man, people need one another. Since creation, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so He made them male and female. Male and female, people need one another.

However, one common problem associated with every relationship is anger. Many factors are connected with this and are varied. What will make A angry may not do so in B. What causes A to be angry in the morning sometimes may not do so in the afternoon or evening.

Not only this, the response of the person wronged matters most. So was it with Lamech. He said to his wives,

“For I have killed a man for wounding me.

Even a young man for hurting me.

If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold,

Then Lamech seventy-seven fold.” (Gen 4:23-24)

Can you see the magnitude of doing evil in the verses quoted above? Can you also see clearly the wickedness of man’s heart to his fellow man, killing someone for wounding hurting?

That is the effect of man’s wrath.

In human relationships, it is advisable to work on the emotion called anger or wrath. It breeds disproportionate results or outcome.

It is also worthy of note that revenge or vengeance is the exclusive right of the Creator of heaven and earth. The reference made to Cain by Lamech is a good reference point to discuss briefly. Cain killed his younger brother for being a righteous man. Do you see any reason why Cain must not be so killed? Our Righteous God – He gave Cain room to repent and pay for his wrongdoing while he was alive. A tag was placed on him that whoever kills Cain will be avenge seven folds.

Killing is not the only wrongdoing mankind that calls for revenge. There are others too numerous to mention here, the essential question here is “How effectively can wrongdoings among people be handled?

The answer to this question is found in answer to Apostle Peter’s question in Mathew 18:21,

“Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus’ response to Peter’s question remains, “I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to Seventy times seven.”   verse 22.

This answer denotes and connotes that you should not engage yourself in mapping out strategies to self-revenge or maintain a diary to compile a list of your fellow’s wrongdoings.

A careful examination of yourself will convince you that you are not perfect and you also do wrong to others. Do you want them to take vengeance on you?

Be a child of God and behave like Him. The Psalmist declares his experience in the hand of God thus,

“The Lord is merciful and gracious,

          Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

          He will not always strive with us,

          Nor will He keep His anger forever.

           He has not dealt with us according

           To our sins,

           Nor punished us according to our iniquities”     Psalm 103:10.

Therefore, in your relationship with others, give room for repentance and forgiveness of their sins and iniquities.

Stay blessed and prepared for the coming of the Lord.

By Olawale Ogunsola

Olawale was trained as an accountant but now is a full time minister of God, an author and a poet, raised to offer words of comfort to our generation. He has great love for the Word of God. His other hobbies include music, photography, reading, writing and looking for a way to utter a word of comfort. “Nothing is of me, everything is of God. I am who I am, by the special grace of God”. His writings can be found here: https://4thlink.wordpress.com/