See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. Hebrews 12:15.

In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. Isaiah 54:17.

Today your LORD (יהוה) God says:

People say they need to “vent,” which means they pour forth frustration, fear, anger, offense, evil, and bitterness. They are never “venting” joy and thanksgiving. The fact that you need to “vent” means you let in something you should never have permitted to fill your heart and now your mouth is speaking from your heart’s abundance. If you had never let it in, you would not now have to pour it on others to poison them and fill their hearts. “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many become defiled.” Hebrews 12:15.

When Moses lost his destiny to lead the nation of Israel into the Promised Land and enjoy the fruit thereof it was because he had let a bitter root grow in his heart for the very people he was leading. In their weakness, fear, frustration, and pride they had grumbled and complained against Moses, blaming him for bringing them out of Egypt into the wilderness, blaming him every time they feared lack or trials, and had even rebelled against him by trying to take over the leadership. Although I had constantly vindicated him before them and swallowed up the evil rebels into the earth, he became offended by them and that bitter root grew in his heart. I tell you that Moses was the most humble man on the earth at that time but he still let this grow. And it eclipsed all the good that had happened in leading them out of Egypt until all became burdensome in his sight. He forgot the obedience and willingness to follow him they had shown when he first came and told them that he had heard from Me and that I had heard their cry in their slavery and would save and redeem them. He forgot how they had obeyed him in the sacrifice and keeping of the Passover. He forgot how they fearlessly walked into the divided sea at his word and how they sang his song of deliverance with joy. He had forgotten how they all so willingly offered their wealth to build the tabernacle in the wilderness until he had to tell them to stop giving. And he forgot how hard everyone worked to follow the plans he gave them to build the tabernacle and all it contained as well as he priests’ vestments. He forgot how I had anointed them to be skilled workers. He forgot their willingness to do the sacrifices and offerings that I instructed them to do in the outer court of the tent of the meeting. All he finally remembered about them was the trouble and burden he had let them become to him. He no longer composed joyful songs of praise to Me or marveled at the works I had done through and with him in Egypt. He even stopped marveling at the manna and the water from the rocks. He became a complainer against the people because they had been so against him.

Moses did something Joseph, the son of Jacob, never did. He stooped down to the level of the people who were coming against him and answered them in kind. And when he did that, he got the same judgment they had received, he did not enter the Promised Land at that time.

What is the answer when that bitter root wants to take hold in you against those who have caused you trouble and pain? You have to become bullet proof. How do you do that? It has to do with the full armor I give you and a new mind set. Do you remember what Joseph said to his brothers when they came to him in Egypt for help after all the evil they had done to him? “Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt. Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to save lives. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. So God sent me ahead of you to ensure for you a remnant on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 45:4-8. And do you remember what David said when Shimei cursed him? “Leave him alone and let him curse, for the LORD has told him. Perhaps the LORD will look on my misery and return good to me instead of his cursing this day.” 2 Samuel 16:12. Both Joseph and David knew and believed in the love I had for them and they had faith that I was working in their lives for good. And they were correct. It all turned out wonderful for them, just as they had hoped.

And no bitter root grew in the heart of My apostle Paul when he was beaten, flogged, thrown in prison, stoned, or wrongfully accused and arrested. He wrote, “For this reason I also suffer these things; but I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to protect what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12. And he also wrote, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28.

Paul knew Me and trusted Me to see to all that concerned him while he did all he could to promote My interests in saving souls. He knew that those who came against him had been blinded by Satan and it was Paul’s job to help them see the Light. He knew he did not really wrestle with flesh and blood but with the powers of darkness. Like Jesus, he was sent to set the captives free. Not to be taken captive by them and dragged down to their level in the futility of their minds.

Jesus had a heart of compassion for the people were like sheep without a shepherd. In the terrible pain with which men inflicted Him on the cross He cried out, “Father, forgive them they know not what they do!” And thus qualified all—Jews, Gentiles, and believers—for participating in the sin offering that He fulfilled. Because, as you recall, only unintentional sins were forgiven by the five sacrifices set out in the book of Leviticus which Jesus fulfilled once for all. And the same was true for qualifying for the safety from the avenger of blood in the cities of refuge.

Next time you are offended, abused, or maligned remember this, for it is My promise to you who are in Christ, “No weapon that is formed against you will succeed; and you will condemn every tongue that accuses you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness and vindication is from Me,” declares the LORD. Isaiah 54:17. There is no reason to be bitter when you know this. In fact, you just know in your heart, like Joseph did, like David did, like Paul did, that I did not cause the harm, “If anyone fiercely attacks you, it will not be from Me. Whoever attacks you will fall because of you.” Isaiah 54:15. Just keep walking with Me, seek My input and solution, as David did at Ziklag instead of becoming bitter against his companions, and respond according to My Word. I can turn it around for your good. Just keep walking with Me, clinging to My hand, and do not allow the anger, the offense, the bitterness to go beyond the sunset of that day. Look forward to the blessing I am about to bestow on you. Take it by faith and patience.

And know that in Christ I have taken away your sins and placed them on Him, and on Him I punished them fully, and gave you My righteousness in Him. “In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you.” Isaiah 54:14. Put on the breastplate of righteousness and hold up the shield of faith and you will be bullet proof.

Joseph never “vented” to anyone, not to Potiphar or the Jailer or Pharaoh about his brothers or about Potiphar’s wife. No one knew these things or Pharaoh would not have honored and been so welcoming and generous to Joseph’s brothers. And Joseph, from his position of authority, never went after Potiphar or his wife. He had let that go before the sun set the day it happened.  I was with Joseph and he was one hundred percent with Me. He had nothing in him to vent because he never let it in.

I love you. I can make you bullet proof if you will keep your mind set on My Word.