Proverbs 25:8
King James Version
8 Go not forth hastily to strive,
lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof,
when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
How does GOD conduct a war?
How does He vanquish Israel's enemies?
How does He equip His prophets?
How does He want His warriors to be?
You will find a remarkable example from the Old Testament:
2 Kings 6:8-10
King James Version
8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel,
and took counsel with his servants, saying,
In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel,
saying,
Beware that thou pass not such a place;
for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place
which the man of God told him and warned him of,
and saved himself there,
not once nor twice.
2 Kings 6:11-12
King James Version
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria
was sore troubled for this thing;
and he called his servants, and said unto them,
Will ye not shew me which of us
is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said,
None, my lord, O king: but Elisha,
the prophet that is in Israel,
telleth the king of Israel the words
that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
2 Kings 6:13-14
King James Version
13 And he said,
Go and spy where he is,
that I may send and fetch him.
And it was told him, saying,
Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses,
and chariots,
and a great host:
and they came by night,
and compassed the city about.
2 Kings 6:15-16
King James Version
15 And when the servant of the man of God
was risen early, and gone forth,
behold, an host compassed the city
both with horses and chariots.
And his servant said unto him,
Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered,
Fear not:
for they that be with us
are more than they that be with them.
(The 16th verse reminds us of a similar verse
from the New Testament:
1 John 4:4
King James Version
4 Ye are of God, little children,
and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you,
than he that is in the world.)
2 Kings 6:17
King James Version
17 And Elisha prayed, and said,
Lord, I pray thee,
open his eyes, that he may see.
And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man;
and he saw: and, behold,
the mountain was full of horses
and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
2 Kings 6:18-19
King James Version
18 And when they came down to him,
Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said,
Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness.
And he smote them with blindness
according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them,
This is not the way,
neither is this the city:
follow me,
and I will bring you to the man
whom ye seek.
But he led them to Samaria.
2 Kings 6:20
King James Version
20 And it came to pass,
when they were come into Samaria,
that Elisha said,
Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.
And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw;
and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
2 Kings 6:21-22
King James Version
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha,
when he saw them,
My father, shall I smite them?
shall I smite them?
22 And he answered,
Thou shalt not smite them:
wouldest thou smite those
whom thou hast taken captive
with thy sword and with thy bow?
set bread and water before them,
that they may eat and drink,
and go to their master.
2 Kings 6:23
King James Version
23 And he prepared great provision for them:
and when they had eaten and drunk,
he sent them away, and they went to their master.
So the bands of Syria came no more
into the land of Israel.
Why did prophet Elisha instruct the king of Israel to feed their enemies?
A case of "reverse psychology?
Well, it proved effective:
"that they may eat and drink, and go to their master"
"So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel."
Which also reminds us of what wise king Solomon said:
Proverbs 25:21-22
King James Version
21 If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat;
and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head,
and the Lord shall reward thee.
Another good reminder is this:
Romans 12:19
King James Version
19 Dearly beloved,
avenge not yourselves,
but rather give place unto wrath:
for it is written,
Vengeance is mine;
I will repay,
saith the Lord.
There are many ways to fight a battle.
Become born again, a true child of GOD.
That SPIRIT may teach you GOD's ways, will, and wisdom.
TRUST GOD, and He will give you the victory.
If it be His will.
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
King James Version
11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power,
and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty:
for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine;
thine is the kingdom, O Lord,
and thou art exalted as head above all.
12 Both riches and honour come of thee,
and thou reignest over all;
and in thine hand is power and might;
and in thine hand it is to make great,
and to give strength unto all.
1 Corinthians 15:57
King James Version
57 But thanks be to God,
which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 5:4-5
King James Version
4 For whatsoever is born of God
overcometh the world:
and this is the victory
that overcometh the world,
even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world,
but he that believeth that Jesus
is the Son of God?
As we wrote over two years ago, in "God's INVISIBLE army":
"There really is an unseen army from GOD,
who protects all who love Him,
and those whom He chooses to protect."
Exodus 14:14
King James Version
14 The Lord shall fight for you,
and ye shall hold your peace.
Related verses:
The MIGHT, POWER, and GLORY of GOD
ALL battles are SPIRITUAL battles