OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD (Part 2)

“Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.” (2 Kings 6:23 NKJV)

 

When the King of Syria was waging war against Israel he became greatly dismayed and confounded when all his secret plots and strategies to waylay the King of Israel were thwarted, having been disclosed to the King of Israel.

 

After a careful enquiry, the King of Syria discovered that it was Elisha the prophet of God in Israel that was exposing and disclosing to the King of Israel all his secret words, plans and plots. Therefore, the King of Syria became very angry and sent a great army with horses and chariots to arrest or kill Elisha (2 Kings 6:8-22).

 

When Elisha rose early in the morning and went out, there was Syrian army surrounding the city with their horses and chariots. Elisha, unlike his servant who was afraid, was fearless and unshaken because he knew that the army of heaven that was with him was far greater and mightier than the Syrian army.

 

Any born-again believer today who is fretting over the threat, the power, the plan or plot of his enemies is certainly unaware of God’s supreme power and abiding presence with him; “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Heb. 13:5 NKJV).

 

The Psalmist also testifies to the abiding presence of God protecting His people.

 

Psalms 125:1-2 – NKJV

 1 Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

 2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.

 

Having asked God to strike the Syrian army with blindness, Elisha then led the blind army to the city of Samaria and delivered them into the hand of the King of Israel.

 

Like many believers today, the King of Israel thought of nothing else other than to kill and destroy all his enemies delivered into his hands. But Elisha restrained him, and then taught and demonstrated to him the best way to deal with his enemies.

 

Let us learn from Elisha.

 

First, Elisha prayed for the restoration of the sight of the Syrian army who had come to arrest or kill him.

 

Similarly, it is expected of you as a believer to pray for the healing or restoration of the spiritual sight of the people who are persecuting you.

 

Jesus commands, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” (Matt. 5:44 NKJV).

 

The wicked are apparently spiritually blind people. The Scripture reveals that the minds of the unbelievers have been blinded by Satan, the god of this age, so that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ would not shine on them, thereby making them a puppet in Satan’s hands (2 Cor. 4:3-4).

 

This is why you should not pray against them to die in their sins and spiritual ignorance regardless of their attitude or conduct towards you.

 

Second, Elisha commanded that a great feast be prepared for the hungry Syrian army who had come on a mission to arrest or kill him.

 

Elisha commanded the King of Israel, saying, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” (2 Kings 6:22 NKJV).

 

This is God’s prescribed way of dealing with your human enemies!

 

Can you imagine preparing a feast with your money and serving all those who have hurt you – your past lovers who have jilted and broken your heart, your old friends who have betrayed and stabbed you at the back, and all those who have abused, persecuted or maltreated you?

 

That is what Elisha commanded the King of Israel to do!

 

Though it may seem a weird or foolish thing to repay your enemies with kindness, yet this is the divine and winning strategy, the divine wisdom, and weapon for triumphing over evil doers in this evil world.

 

Paul clearly states this truth in his epistle to the Roman believers.

 

Romans 12:17-21 – NKJV

 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

Many believers today are not triumphing over evil and evil doers because they are not wielding, employing or engaging this divine wisdom or weapon (that is, overcoming evil with good) in their warfare against evil; rather, they are seeking to overcome evil with evil.

 

In complete obedience to Elisha, the king of Israel employed God’s wisdom and winning strategy in dealing with his enemies.

 

2 Kings 6:20-23 – NKJV

 20 So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the LORD opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria!

 21 Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”

 22 But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”

 23 Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.

 

The outcome of the act of kindness that the king of Israel demonstrated towards the Syrian army was awesome.

 

The Scripture testifies, “The bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel.” (2 Kings 2:23b). Hallelujah!

 

When the king of Israel repaid his enemies with kindness, his enemies were perfectly and permanently disoriented, defeated, silenced, confounded and subdued.

 

Beloved, as you can clearly see from this true account in the Bible, it is possible to stop evil permanently from encroaching upon your life, home or business. It is possible to walk in perpetual victory over the wicked. It is possible to experience divine rest in this present evil world.

 

The secret is the practical application of Jesus’ prescription, wisdom or winning strategy in your dealings with your human enemies.

 

Matthew 5:43-48 – NKJV

 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

 45 “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

 46 “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

 47 “And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

 48 “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

 

Friend, while it is appropriate to be violent or aggressive in spiritual warfare when confronting or dealing with evil spiritual forces or powers, but when it comes to dealing with your enemies in flesh and blood (humans), the only effective weapon and winning strategy is repaying or overcoming evil with good.

 

This strategy works at all times and in all situations!

 

It is the wisdom that comes from above and it will set you above all your human enemies!

 

Live by it!

 

 

Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing to me today this divine wisdom and winning strategy against evil doers. I receive the courage and strength that I need to always overcome evil with good, in Jesus’ name. Amen.