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A Change of Allegiance  /  Chapter 12, My Defender is God  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 4
Mr. Sharps’ wry grin and his decision to send them back to play creates a strange moment of authority, restraint, and implied satisfaction; what does that scene expose about how humans want justice to feel, and how might that desire conflict with the way God says vengeance belongs to Him?
Another way to ask: Mr. Sharps seems satisfied but sends the boys back to play. What does that moment show about how we want justice to feel, and how might that clash with God’s teaching that vengeance belongs to Him?

Direct Answer The scene shows that humans often want justice to feel satisfying—like the bully “finally got what he deserved”—even when authority restrains punishment. That desire can clash with God’s command not to avenge ourselves, because it tempts us to savor payback rather than entrust judgment to the Lord.

Support from Transcript:

  • Mr. Sharps hears the story and confirms Frankie “shot the thing right into his eyes…took him to the hospital.”
  • Dean notices a subtle satisfaction: “Right to the far left side of his pursed-lip frown was…a…wry grin…with a little sparkle in his eyes.”
  • Instead of punishing Ricky and Dean, he exercises restraint: “he told us to run along and go play.”
  • Dean frames the moment as deliverance, not personal revenge: “my deliverance was the work of an omnipotent defender.”
  • He later places himself under Romans 12: “do not avenge yourselves…‘Vengeance is mine. I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
Discussion Follow-ups What kind of “sparkle in the eyes” do you feel when someone who hurt you gets embarrassed? How can you hold a desire for justice without taking ownership of vengeance?

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