How do you treat your enemies?

“When the king of Israel saw them, he shouted to Elisha, “My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them? Of course not! Elisha replied. “Do we kill prisoners of war? Give them food and drink and send them home again to their master. So the king made a great feast for them and then sent them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel” (2Kings 6:21-23)

Naturally, we feel bad, when some people constitute themselves into enemies against us. They become a thorn in our flesh and can go to any length to hurt us, if care is not taken. Such was the case of Syria against Israel and the Bible observed rightly that Syria was making war against Israel and through it was determined to humiliate them.

However, the Syrian King forgot that the God of Israel is powerful and cannot be defeated in a battle. He is a God of war. But when he plotted in his bedroom, God used his servant Elisha to reveal his plans to the King of Israel. It is to be noted that the Syrian King depended on human knowledge and approach, as he sent out his armies to go and fetch Elisha so that he could teach him a lesson. He did not remember that arms of flesh would always fail.

The Bible noted thus: “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds”, (2 Corinth. 10: 4). But rather than retaliate, Elisha treated his soldiers fairly.

Note that the King of Israel wanted to kill the Syrian armies, but was prevented by Prophet Elisha not to do so. It is natural to react that way, especially to a supposed enemy, but the believer is not expected to allow emotions becloud his reasoning. Therefore, Prophet Elisha ordered as follows: “…make a great feast for them and then send them home to their master. After that, the Aramean raiders stayed away from the land of Israel”, (2Kings 6:23).

The Bible was not specific about how long they stayed away, but it was in tandem with God’s word that if He is happy with us, He would make our enemies to be at peace with us, (Prov. 16:7).

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul quoted a proverb in his ethical teaching on Christian living in Romans 12:20, which he took from Proverbs 25:21, 22 that says: “therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head”. By this, he was encouraging believers not to revenge hatred with hatred.

This attitude was also seen in our Saviour Jesus Christ, particularly when He taught His disciples that: “You have heard that it was said, ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek; turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away”, (Matt 5:38-42).

The lesson proffered here may be too hard to accept, but the believer has no choice than to comply with God’s. He/she is expected not to return hate for hate, but to overcome evil with good, (Romans 12:21).
Ven. Ernest Onuoha
Rector, Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.
www.ibrucentre.org