Compassion Embraces Enemies

When the Babylonian army advanced to attack Judah in 586 B.C., the Edomite soldiers marched with the Babylonians to Jerusalem to destroy it. Prophet Obadiah pours out God’s anger at the Edomites for their cruelties. In no uncertain terms, he prophesied that they would be destroyed forever. And it did happen. A couple of years later, the Babylonians destroyed them, and later, the Nabateans drove them away from their land, never to return.

But God’s plan for his people, though hurt, is to offer peace in times of strife. The city of Jerusalem will shelter the fugitives escaping the war between the Babylonians and Edomites. Instead of rejoicing over God's vengeance over their enemies, they will offer comfort and peace. This amazing passage reflects on the church’s role in challenging times.

In the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States, Christians opened their homes to slaves to facilitate their transit to the free northern states. The network of such homes is known as the Underground Railroad, though no railroad was involved. Similarly, during the Holocaust, which claimed millions of Jewish lives, Christians opened their home to protect them from the fury of Hitler. The Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem has a pavilion documenting this fact of history. The history continues to the present. When floods devastated my little state in 2020, many Christian homes opened their doors to welcome those who lost their homes. We may add many more examples.

In the story about the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30—37), Jesus taught that compassion must ignore racial barriers. Christian compassion should also ignore disparities and hurts. Followers of Christ must be ready to show compassion to wrongdoers because they deserve more compassion and love than others.

Will you open your heart to show compassion and love in times of hardship? Let’s be instruments of peace and refuge, just like the Good Samaritan. Step forward and make a difference today.