Handling Hatred
Seeing Your Enemies with Gospel Eyes
There is no shortage of enemies in the life of a Christian.
Some enemies will be obvious to you such as critics, slanderers, persecutors, but others are more subtle. There are those whose values or influence challenge our convictions, those who mock or marginalize the faith we profess. Perhaps the most painful, however, are the fractured relationships, former friends, even fellow believers with whom we now stand at odds.
The question is not if we will encounter enemies, but how we will respond to them. And in a world quick to retaliate and slow to forgive, the people of God are called to something different. Something strange. Something that looks contrary to human nature. Something like the gospel.
One of my favorite stories in Scripture that portrays this is 2 Kings 6:8–23. In it, Elisha is surrounded by enemies and death seems imminent. However, while his servant stands horrified before the enemy, the prophet stands with peace. In the midst of it all, this text reveals a quiet confidence in the presence of God and a surprising, gracious response to those who stand against God’s people.
A Surprising Sight
Our passage opens with Israel under threat as the king of Syria is frustrated with his raids being thwarted at every turn. When the king of Syria discovers that the prophet Elisha is the so
urce that has brought his plans to ruin, he sends an army to capture Elisha in Dothan. By morning, the city is surrounded.
When Elisha’s servant sees the encircling army, he understandably panics. This is the response of the flesh when surrounded by trails, is it not? We tend to respond with fear, anxiety, and helplessness. We feel outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and out of control. The response of the servant isn’t remarkable, or confusing, but Elisha’s response is otherworldly.
As he stands beside his fearful servant, Elisha speaks these words of comfort over him:
“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (v. 16)
And then he prays:
“O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.”
What happens next is extraordinary. The servant's eyes are opened, and he sees the mountain full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha (v. 17). Yes, the Syrian army was a force on the battlefield. Yes, the odds looked petrifying. Yes, we all would have responded like the servant. But here we are reminded that the Lord of hosts has already taken the field.
Gospel Eyes See Differently
Here is the first lesson in responding to our enemies: we must see them through the lens of God's presence and providence. Without this sight, fear will govern us. But when our eyes are opened, when we remember that God surrounds us, not only with angelic armies but with covenant love, our posture toward opposition changes.
We are not abandoned. We are not outnumbered. We are not at the mercy of our enemies. We are upheld by the unseen hand of our God.
To respond with grace, we must first rest in sovereignty.
A Gracious Response
Elisha’s response doesn’t end with an awareness of divine protection, but a display of radical grace. After praying that the Syrian army be struck with blindness, Elisha leads them into the heart of Samaria. There, surrounded and defenseless, the enemies of Israel stand at the mercy of the king. In the heat of the moment, the eager King asks Elisha, “Shall I strike them down?” not once, but twice (v. 21).
Elisha’s answer is stunning:
“You shall not strike them down... Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” (v. 22)
So the king prepares a great feast. And when the Syrians are fed, they are sent home. No bloodshed. No retaliation. Just undeserved mercy.
“And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel.” (v. 23)
The enemies of God came with weapons and left with full bellies. They came to fight and were shown hospitality. In this story, we are shown how an awareness of God’s presence and passionate grace informs our response to those who stand against us.
Grace has the final word.
The Pattern of Christ
It’s tempting to treat this story as an exception. Like it’s a one-time event in a strange moment of Old Testament history, but this is no outlier. It is a window into the heart of God, and a foreshadowing of His most stunning work. Simply put, does this text not resemble exactly what Jesus has done with us?
We were the enemies who opposed Him with our sin. We surrounded His holiness with our rebellion and He did not strike us down. Instead, He came to us. He opened our blind eyes and then He set a table before us, not with bread and water, but with His own body and blood.
Romans 5:10 says, “While we were yet enemies, Christ died for us,” and this pattern is the pattern we are called to follow.
“Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you...” (Matt. 5:44)
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him...” (Rom. 12:20)
“Do not repay evil for evil... but bless, for to this you were called...” (1 Pet. 3:9)
This is not weakness. It is gospel strength. It is the kind of love that can only flow from a heart that knows it has been forgiven much.
So How Do We Respond?
When you are criticized, slandered, or treated unjustly—how will you respond?
Yes, the world shouts, “Get even!” But the gospel whispers, “Rest. You are not alone. Show mercy, for vengeance is mine says the Lord.” You see, the difference lies in what we see. The servant saw only the army. Elisha saw the Lord. The king saw an opportunity for vengeance. Elisha saw a place for grace.
We will never respond with mercy if we see our enemies as ultimate threats.
But if we see them as those God can conquer or convert through kindness, everything changes.
To respond to our enemies in a Christlike way, we must pray in two ways:
“Lord, open my eyes.” Let me see that I am not alone. Let me remember Your presence, Your promises, and Your providence even when fear surrounds me.
“Lord, make me merciful.” You showed grace to me when I was Your enemy. Let me show grace to mine.
Final Word
You and I will face enemies. Some may be strangers. Others may be friends-turned-foes. But none of them are beyond the reach of God’s grace or exempt from His justice.
Our job is not to conquer them. Our calling is to reflect the mercy of Christ and to respond, not with wrath, but with the love that first came to us. We may feel surrounded, but we are surrounded by even more grace.
And that grace frees us to love even those who oppose us.
"We must see them through the lens of God's presence and providence. Without this sight, fear will govern us. But when our eyes are opened, when we remember that God surrounds us, not only with angelic armies but with covenant love, our posture toward opposition changes." So good, brother! People are not problems but purposefully and providentially placed for our perfection! :)
On a practical note, though not in this passage, I've found that viewing people as if they are doing what they think is best has helped me a lot in the midst of interpersonal conflict. Are some people just being hurtful? Are some people just wrong? Yes and yes. But when I view them as trying to do the right thing (at least in their eyes), it takes away the personal nature of the attacks. It's helped bring peace to my heart in many conflicts in ministry.