In 2 Kings 6, we read the account of the war between the country of Aram and God’s people, Israel. The King of Aram discovered that Elisha, the prophet, was listening to God, and aiding the people of God to win the war over the king of Aram, so the king of Aram sent an entire army to capture Elisha. The Lord blinded the Arameans and led them to Samaria, totally lost, blind, and confused.
When the king of Israel saw his enemies blind and confused, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” (2 Kings 6:21). You can almost feel his blood lust and his anger against these people who brought war to his door. He wanted to vent his anger and take their lives! Jesus talked about this kind of hate as “heart murder” (Matthew 5:21-30), teaching that if we hate someone, we have murdered them in our hearts.
So what did Elisha say? Would he agree with the Israelite king’s desire to kill these men from Aram?
2 Kings 6:22 (NIV) Do not kill them,” he answered. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master.”
Wait! What? Don’t kill them, give them a feast? You want me to do good to those who wage war against us? Show love to those who hate us?
Friend, you were at one time the enemy of God (Colossians 1:21), and His hatred of your sin boiled over, but it didn’t erupt on you, but instead on God’s own Son. God made a feast for your soul in the cross of Christ (Luke 22:19-20). We now feed on the altar of the cross (Hebrews 13:10) and experience refreshment in the living water of the Holy Spirit (John 7:38-39).
Notice what this act of kindness and mercy, the preparing of food and drink for enemies, did to the king and country of Aram. It replaced anger with peace:
2 Kings 6:23 (NIV) So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel’s territory.