Exodus 23:4-5 ESV [4] “If you meet your enemy’s ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. [5] If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
So, just how far will we go for those who hate us? This law does not make me feel warm and fuzzy. How about you? How do you honestly feel about going out of your way to help someone who does nothing to help you? In fact, they do the opposite. They do everything to hurt you. They speak evil on your name. They do all manner of evil against you. God expects me to take their lost ox home? Why would there be such a requirement in the Old Testament Law? I mean, should I not just avoid them? After all, they hate me. This goes way beyond reasonable for most of us. Too far! But, Jesus when discussing how we love others, said this;
Luke 6:27-31 ESV [27] “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, [28] bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. [29] To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. [30] Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. [31] And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
I must admit this is not natural. This is supernatural! Beyond human. This behavior is spiritual, not carnal. Our nature will not allow this. Our flesh will not take his ox home. Our flesh will laugh at his ox and his donkey. Even mock him. But, we are not carnal, are we? 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 KJV [3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: [4] (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Our stubbornness. We’re not oxen, We’re sheep
How? Through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Through the love of Jesus. Though Christ.
Proverbs 25:21-22 ESV
[21] If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, [22] for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
I’ll be honest. This proverb makes me feel a little better. The thought that doing good to my enemy will make them uncomfortable. Obviously, that is a wrong and poor motive. Our motive is the reward that we are promised. After all, we were the enemy of God. He died for us while we were still his enemy. He forgave us for killing him even as our sin crucified him. Who am I to hold a grudge? Who am I to hate anyone? Who am I to be stubborn as an ox?