A Surprising Initiative

        2 Kings 6 records an incident in which the prophet Elisha escapes being captured by the Aramean army by praying for them to be stricken blind and then leading them to the Israelite capital of Samaria. Once they get there he prays again, and they regain their sight, only to find that the tables have turned and it is they who have been captured. The king of Israel is elated that the army of his enemy has been dropped in his lap, and he says eagerly to Elisha, “Father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” (v. 21). Under his breath I imagine him adding, “Please say I can kill them. I really want to kill them.”

        But Elisha puts his foot down. “No!” he says. “Did you capture with your sword and your bow those whom you want to kill?” (v. 22). He advises instead that the king feed the captives and give them water and then send them on their way back to Aram. So the king provides a great feast for this enemy army and sends them back to the king of Aram unharmed. The story concludes with this telling statement: “And the Arameans no longer came raiding into the land of Israel” (v. 23).

        Now what do you suppose would have happened if the prophet had gone along with the king’s rabid desire to kill his enemies? Aram would have faced a temporary setback, but the fires of vengeance would surely have led the Aramean king to raise another, stronger army and come and attack Israel. The war would have been prolonged and escalated. But with the surprising choice to treat his captives with kindness instead of violence the king of Israel bought lasting peace.

        We live in a culture in which the first, last, and middle resorts in such situations are always violence. But as Martin Luther King (and others before and since) observed, violence only breeds more violence. “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We are a people whose only tool is the proverbial hammer. Every problem we encounter looks like a nail to be pounded. But that only brings on more pounding—a prolonging and escalation of violent retribution.

        One of the principles of what Christian ethicist Glen Stassen calls just peacemaking theory (in contrast to just war theory) is the importance of taking surprising initiatives that have the capacity to transform a tense situation and bring about a peaceful outcome. Paul endorses such initiatives when he writes in Romans 12:20, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Transform the situation through a surprising, nonviolent initiative and inspire (or shame) the other party into responding in kind.

        This can be done in conflicts between nations, it can be done in community or church conflicts, and it can be done in conflicts between individuals. Try it sometime. Instead of escalating the fight through accusations or character assassination or nasty words, offer a transforming initiative. Both you and your adversary may be surprised at the result.