If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap coals of fire on his head and ADONAI [the LORD] will reward you. Proverbs 25:21-22, TLV

A Mini-Sauna or Something More?      I have heard various interpretations of “heaping coals of fire” on our enemy’s head. Everything from God taking revenge on our enemy, to not only blessing our enemy with food and drink, but providing an innovative mini-sauna. I like the mini-sauna idea, but I think God had more important reasons.

The other morning, I was thinking, “What would my Father want in this situation? What would be His goal to move us to provide these acts of grace and generosity to our enemy?”

Change.

What about a change of heart? Not just our heart — to have compassion for our “enemy” — but that this enemy would have a change of heart.

Generally, a change of heart begins with conviction. The Holy Spirit reveals a wrong, and the person feels bad. Feels sorry. Hmm.

Suddenly, the hot coals clicked.

Blushing

I’m a blusher. I blush fire-engine red. There are many reasons why people blush and the most common comes from strong emotions such as shyness or embarrassment, anger or excitement.

When that blush forms, it is HOT on my cheeks. The more emotion I feel, the more it travels until my whole head is ablaze.

In order to blush our body temperature needs to rise. When our face reddens it is associated with an imbalance in our body temperature.

The redness tends to be located in specific areas most commonly in the cheeks, ears and forehead. Areas around the neck and upper chest can also flush red in some people. I’ve actually felt pressure on the top of my head, when my face and ears blush.

Maybe, my friends, our Father’s goal with our acts of kindness is to provide a tool for the Holy Spirit to convict our enemy to repentance. Just perhaps, in that conviction, this soul blushes and it feels like a heap of coals on their head?

“Rather, ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For by doing so you will heap coals of fire upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:20-21, TLV

I like that. So rather than it being about God as the avenger, or us giving our enemy a mini-sauna, our acts of kindness and good could be used by the Holy Spirit to bring us a new sibling in Messiah. That would be amazing!

Think More About It

Have you ever “heaped coals” on another? Has someone ever done that for you?

Until tomorrow, may we show love and mercy, my friends.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children 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. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they? Matthew 5:43-46, TLV

Right. Love and pray for those who persecute and hate us? Of course. But how does that practically work out at a time of war when those enemies seek to murder innocents? What I do know is that Israel has always sought to bless the nations—including those residing in Gaza. Their medics offer aid on the battlefield to both Israelis and Gazans.

Today, let’s pray for wisdom and compassion for those in impossible situations on and off the battlefield. Yes? God bless you.