2 Kings 6:19-23: a reflection

19Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” He led them to Samaria. 20When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “LORD, open these men’s eyes, that they may see.” The LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and behold, they were in the middle of Samaria. 21The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, “My father, shall I strike them? Shall I strike them?” 22He answered, “You shall not strike them. Would you strike those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, then go to their master.” 23He prepared a great feast for them. After they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria stopped raiding the land of Israel.

When a raiding band of Syrians is delivered, blinded, into Elisha's hands, the king of Israel eagerly asks whether he should strike them down. But Elisha says no; instead, he tells the king to set food and water before them, feed them, and send them home to their master. So the king prepares a great feast for his enemies, feeds them, and sends them away. And the result is striking: the Syrian raids on Israel stopped. Kindness to the enemy accomplished what killing would not.

Notice what Elisha does with the enemies in his power: he treats them with unexpected kindness, feeding them rather than killing them. The king wanted to strike them down; but Elisha said to feed them and send them home. And this unexpected kindness disarmed the hostility: the raids stopped. The enemies, shown kindness where they expected death, ceased their raiding. Kindness to the enemy accomplished what force would not; it disarmed the hostility rather than deepening it.

That is a striking example of overcoming enemies with kindness rather than force. We tend to think that enemies must be met with force, struck down, defeated; but Elisha met them with kindness, and it disarmed their hostility, ending the raids. Kindness to an enemy can accomplish what force cannot, disarming hostility rather than deepening the cycle of harm. When you have an enemy, or one who has been hostile to you, consider whether kindness might disarm the hostility where force would only deepen it. Elisha fed his enemies, and the raids stopped; kindness accomplished what killing would not. Do not assume that enemies must always be met with force; sometimes unexpected kindness disarms hostility, as Elisha's feeding of the raiders ended their raids. Consider meeting hostility with kindness, which can disarm an enemy where force would only harden them, as Elisha's kindness to the Syrian raiders ended their war against Israel.

Lord, when a raiding band of Syrians was delivered, blinded, into Elisha's hands, the king wanted to strike them down; but Elisha said no, and told him to feed them and send them home. So the king prepared a feast for his enemies, fed them, and sent them away; and the Syrian raids stopped. Kindness to the enemy accomplished what killing would not. Show me what Elisha did with the enemies in his power: he treated them with unexpected kindness, feeding them rather than killing them. And this disarmed the hostility: the raids stopped. Kindness to the enemy accomplished what force would not. That is a striking example of overcoming enemies with kindness rather than force. I tend to think that enemies must be met with force, struck down; but Elisha met them with kindness, and it disarmed their hostility. Kindness to an enemy can accomplish what force cannot. When I have an enemy, or one who has been hostile to me, help me consider whether kindness might disarm the hostility where force would only deepen it. Elisha fed his enemies, and the raids stopped. Keep me from assuming that enemies must always be met with force; sometimes unexpected kindness disarms hostility. Help me consider meeting hostility with kindness, Lord, which can disarm an enemy where force would only harden them, as Elisha's kindness to the raiders ended their war. Help me overcome hostility with kindness.