Newsweek reported (August 10, 2021) that a 65-year-old man in India, Rama Mahto, was bitten repeatedly on the leg by a venomous viper. To retaliate against the viper for his nuisance, Mahto decided to bite the snake in return! The family reported to the authorities that he had been bitten more than 10 times. Apparently Mahto did not believe the snake was dangerous because it was a juvenile. Eventually, Mahto tossed the snake into a nearby tree, refused to go to a hospital, and later died in his sleep. Apparently, Mahto was intoxicated when he pulled this foolish stunt!

Yes, juvenile venomous snakes can still be deadly! Yes, you should always seek professional treatment for a venomous snakebite (made evident by two piercings which result from fang penetration). And yes, you should not mix alcohol and venomous snakes. Avoiding alcoholic drinks altogether is best for more than one reason. In fact, this incident shines a whole new light on the wise man’s saying about alcohol: “At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like a viper” (Prov. 23:32).

But the main lesson I wish to emphasize is how deadly revenge can be. Seeking to “balance the scales of justice” on our own can very easily turn disastrous for us because we are ignorant and impotent when it comes to dealing with the future. Trying to exact revenge can have serious repercussions.

Thus, God warns us to leave vengeance in His hands: Leviticus 19:18; Deut. 32:35. Romans 12:19 says: “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”

It is dangerous to seek revenge.

Paul Holland