KILLING AN ENEMY WITH KINDNESS

Image result for clip art of people eating          Elisha has prayed and his servant sees the hills full of horses and chariots of fire.  He realizes that there is another presence and it represents the angel armies and there is more of them then what he has already seen the first time.  

The enemy advances toward Elisha and he again PRAYS.  "Strike these people with blindness."  God performs as He has been asked.  Elisha goes to the army and tells them they are on the wrong road and if they will follow him, he will lead them to the man they are looking for.  How one leads a blind army, only God!  He leads them to Samaria and he asks the Lord to open their eyes.  Their eyes are open and they realize they are in Samaria...enemy territory!  The king of Israel meets them and Elisha.  He asks Elisha if he should have them killed.  Note Elisha's suggestion:  "Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master."  A great feast is prepared, they eat and drink, and then are sent back to their master.  "So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory."

I recognize that this is certainly a strange option for dealing with an "enemy", but I do understand the truth of Jesus in Matthew 5:43-45, "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'  But I tell you: Love your enemies and PRAY for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.  He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."  

 I recall a very difficult situation where lying and slander were going on among a group of "friends" regarding my family personally in a church environment. There was not any 
physical persecution, but there was gossip and verbal abuse going on.  My pastor, (my deceased husband), encouraged me so many times during the mini-crisis to PRAY and to trust God for the outcome. All glory to the Lord, I was able to be obedient and I could walk away, not bound in bitterness and an unforgiving spirit.  My kindness was praying rather than retaliation.  PRAYER is always the best option for God to reveal a strategy for dealing with an enemy or a "frienemy" and the strategy, in most cases, has already been given in Scripture. PRAYER is always the greater weapon. Obedience is always the Best option!  Forever learning!  In process, still!  #IHAVETHREESONS



 

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