Proverbs 25:21-22 – If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

This is an interesting verse. We can easily understand the first part. Be kind to our enemies. Give them what they need, regardless of our feelings for them. But what does it mean that this action will “heap burning coals on his head?”

There are two illustrations of burning coals in scripture.

One is the fire used to refine metals; the other is a picture of God’s wrath.

Matthew Henry says that satisfying the needs of our enemies, “will be a likely means to win upon them, and bring them over to be reconciled to us; we shall mollify them as the refiner melts the metal in the crucible, not only by putting it over the fire, but by heaping coals of fire upon it. The way to turn an enemy into a friend is, to act towards him in a friendly manner. If it do not gain him, it will aggravate his sin and punishment, and heap the burning coals of God’s wrath upon his head, as rejoicing in his calamity may be an occasion of God’s turning his wrath from him” (Proverbs 24:17).

A friend once observed in our group Bible study that she was confused when her kind actions were rejected. The Lord gently reminded her, “Did you think it was going to feel good to have burning coals on your head?”  We laughed at the image, but isn’t it true?

Our kind acts toward our enemies will have one of two reactions. Either it will melt their heart, and restoration, and forgiveness will take place, as God does His refining work, or it will harden their hearts and they will remain under God’s hand of discipline. Their response is not up to us; our part is simply to be obedient to God, be kind to our enemies, and let God do the work.

Do you find it easy to be kind to those who have hurt you?

It’s impossible in our own strength, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, we can! Who in your life needs a “bite of food” or a “drink of water” today?