Fire Fighter
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22 NASB
Your enemy – “Fight fire with fire.” That’s the common point of view. What someone dishes out to you, give back to them. But the biblical perspective adds another element to the equation, an element that changes everything about the actions. That element is the sovereignty of God. From His perspective, an encounter with an enemy is an opportunity to express the covenant contained within His grace. It is a chance to demonstrate undeserved favor, the same undeserved favor we received from His hand simply because He loves us. Perhaps that’s why these verses of wisdom begin with “your enemy.” Actually the Hebrew is sonaaka, from the verb sane – to hate. This is the opposite of ahav (to love) and is often associated with those who oppose God. So your enemy is really God’s enemy – and you are to treat His enemy as He would.
We should also notice that this is a very personal enemy. This wisdom verse doesn’t describe just any enemy. It describes your perfect enemy, the one that the sovereign God arranged to cross your path. This is the enemy on purpose. Unless God engineered circumstances for you to encounter this particular enemy, you would have nothing to do for him. But God has arranged for this particular enemy, the perfect enemy for you, to meet you in order that you might demonstrate the upside-down behavior of God’s love toward this particular person. You are to do for him what he would never do for you. He is sane, the one who hates. You are called to love him. Yeshua says as much in His commentary on this verse from the Tanakh (“love your enemies”).
Take time to reflect on the personal nature of this insight. Don’t imagine that God has engineered your life so that you must deal with the millions who oppose Him. Perhaps He will arrange that, but it doesn’t seem likely. It is far more probable that He has already arranged your life so that you have encountered those specific people who oppose Him. You could probably write down their names. And once you have done so, it might be useful to ask, “Am I a fire fighter in their lives or am I bringing them a cool drink of water?”
There is a piece of mafia wisdom that can usefully be employed here. “Keep your enemies closer than your friends” can be turned over to mean, “Draw your enemies close in order that you may make them friends.” We don’t get anywhere fighting God’s enemies with the tools of sane. We must use God’s tools in this very personal battle. We must convert enemies to friends and friends to brothers. A drink of water begins the battle.
Topical Index: your enemy, sonaaka, sane, hate, Proverbs 25:21-22
Amein and Amein! He does not want anyone to perish but that ALL people will be redeemed. Praise Yah! Let us sing a lovesong to our coming King and Redeemer! May we all merrit His soon return! Let our longing be so pure and strong that He will not tarry much longer!
There’s a beautiful link to Matt.5 – ‘happy are you…’ in Hebrew. When you put fire (eesh, the letters ‘a’ and ‘sh’) on someone’s head (rosh, the letter ‘r’), together you’ve got the word ‘ashr’ which means ‘happy’. Psalm 1: ‘Happy the man….’. Or Matthew 5: ‘Happy are you…’. We are to bring our enemy to a state of bliss……. WOW!
And ofcourse there’s the link to Pentecost: fire on the top (head) of the mountain as Jahweh gave His Tora, and fire on the heads of the disciples as He filled them with His spirit.
Very true, Skip. I have found that when I examine why certain people upset me or cause me to want to avoid them, I often find they either remind me very much of my old nature or they have qualities that remind me of my daily battles. In a sense, it’s like looking at a mirror to myself. Recently, I have become reconciled with someone in my congregation who I had avoided for quite some time because he said hurtful things to me or there was “something about him” that made me want to stay away. I bet there are many people who feel that way about me and yet they give me a cool drink of water. I had prayed for reconcilation and a forgiving spirit and suddenly things changed in the blink of an eye. Interstingly, it happened during a dance camp in which the weather was super hot and humid and we all need tall glasses of cool water–very symbolic. I am very thankful for the healing in this relationship. Now…on to the next!
Beautiful words this morning, Donna. Our Father can work those things out, especially when we ask Him to help.
What is amazing about this is that most of us don’t have to look far for these perfect enemies, they are very close by. Spouses, siblings, children…etc. Sometimes I think the Christian community wastes what would otherwise be good efforts to evangelize , when they should be getting their own HOMES/houses in order FIRST.
Mary, in my studies/fellowship with others – I have been taught the same – start in the inner circle of your family & work your way out & things tend to be in better order that way…
We can be missionaries in our own homes & give & wash our family in the Water of the Word of God & prayer – first things first…
“When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased.” C.S. Lewis, in a 1952 letter
jan
It appears that is how YHWH designed life and Messiah followed the pattern. Modern assemblies may be missing this important building block. Subliminally, we miss the tree for the forest. I so wish I had known this as a young Christian!
Mary,
I agree with your assessment regarding the home. Shalom bayit or peace in the home is such a critcal component in being a light to our community and our world to the distinctiveness of the message and love of the ONE God of Israel.
In the Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4:9; 11:13-21; Numbers 15:37-41, we see the passion of the Father’s heart in diligently teaching our children. We also see Peter in Acts 2, quoting from the prophet Joel, that the first catergory of people that the poured out Holy Spirit will impact is, our sons and daughters. The Father’s heart beats loud for the next generation.
Loving our enemies is a vital message we must teach and live out for our sons and daughters.
Hi Brian,
We cannot give what we do not possess. I continue to struggle with this as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, coworker…all the roles (is that a Greek concept?) I should be the same no matter who I am or where I am. Walking through enemy territory can be quite tricky, especially when the struggle between the two inclinations can seem so overwhelming at times.
So thankful for the grace that sustains us when we are weak. Thankful for the love of the Almighty One.
Thankful for a body of people hungering and thirsting after righteousness, like this community!
Shalom
Shalom,
This msg. was extremely timely for me. I am living this, I am in a valley of humiliation with my enemies all around and they are in my family.
I know very well what this looks like. I have experienced literally giving water to an enemy.
This did not come from desire or manufacturing or imitating Yeshua. It was just there, even I was in shock at what I was able to do. You cannot manipulate this, it (HIS character) is either in you, a part of you or it is not. This last comment was from Oswald Chambers in todays devot. I read it after I read Skip’s. It is difficult to hear this right now, but HE does take us thru levels and layers to get what HE wants.
Being vulnerable; Right now I am failing miserably at this.
I would appreciate prayer as there are many issues I am dealing with right now and needing a break.
blessings.
As the saying goes, failure is not final. So we stand with you in prayer. Know that Abba is with those of a broken spirit. He is close to you now as you seek His help. He is our help in time of trouble and He gives grace to the humble. If you would like someone to talk to, email me at mer.snead@yahoo.com.
Shalom Shalom
Mary
Janet,
Standing for and yours in the power of the Holy Spirit. Be encouraged and refreshed in His shalom!
Thank you Mary and Brian for your encouragement…..