In 2010, a colleague
of mine emailed the group at 1 o’clock in the morning in a last minute attempt
to find coverage for his 6 a.m. shift because he was so sick. I happened to be
up around 4 a.m. to bring my son to the airport for his school trip. I was off
that day. I debated and struggled with whether to help or not. I sensed that I
should. So I emailed him and offered to take the shift.
This kind of thing
happens not infrequently at work. Colleagues cover for each other. Doctoring is
one profession where you just don’t call off unless you are nearly on your
deathbed.
What was profound
about this situation was that, for several years before this, he was the chief
opponent to my becoming a partner. In fact, just a few months before this, I
had gone through probably one of the most excruciatingly painful emotional
experiences of my life having been kept out of partnership by him and his
allies. I knew I should help him despite what he had done to me. I sensed it
was what God wanted me to do, that it would be a lesson for me and perhaps for
him.
Now, nearly three
years later, Romans 12:20 is crystal clear to me.
Pouring hot coals on your enemy’s head has never made sense
to me, but I’ve come across it many times in reference to how we ought to treat
our enemies.
Pouring hot coals on someone’s head would logically hurt and
burn our enemy. This doesn’t sound like being good to our enemies. If anything,
it should harm my enemy. Romans 12:20 just made no sense.
But I recently read a clear explanation on a Messianic
Jewish blog. As the blog explains it, it may have been a blessing to pour
out hot coals on another’s head in biblical times. There was no electricity
back then. Fires in the hearth would heat homes. But as the coals burned out,
in order to restore heat, someone would go to a neighbor with a basket on his
head. The neighbor would then pour hot coals into the basket to carry back home
and reignite the hearth.
Within this cultural context, this puzzling Scripture makes
total sense. By pouring coals on his head, you are helping rekindle your
neighbor’s fireplace, heat his home and resume cooking. When you do this for
your enemy, you are blessing rather than retaliating. This is true Christian
character. I bet this is what Paul meant---just as Jesus meant when He said,
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, NIV
1984).
With God’s help, I got it right that morning. Can I get it
right tomorrow?
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for your
sovereign ways. Help me to be more like you each day and through every trial. I
love you.
Amen
Dr.
Alice Lee
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