An Imprudent Comeback
The Country of Iran claims Israel bombed one of their allies. They vowed to get Israel back for it---just you wait and see. Some days later, they sent more than three hundred missiles, drones, rockets, and other war paraphernalia aimed at striking Israel back. Israel’s defense system worked successfully, and only slight damage was inflicted on the country. Still, Israel vowed to strike back. They just had to think about it for a little while.
Meanwhile, I suggested to my wife, since I do not have connections with the State Department, that Israel should send a mass of propaganda bombs and saturate the country of Iran with leaflets saying, “Hey, we are near neighbors; let’s see if we can get along.” Then, to show they were serious, they could airdrop food and medical supplies to help them minister to their citizenry. We did that in Gaza recently; surely, we could find a way to do it again.
Such action would fulfill Biblical instructions about heaping coals of fire on the enemies’ head. (Romans 12:20). However, I seriously doubt Israel would accept my suggestion, even if I could get the message to them. After all, they are not fond of the source of that advice---the New Testament.
Obviously, the words above are “tongue in cheek;” but let me tell you a true story. An acquaintance, a young lady, was telling me about the hostility of a coworker toward her. She was venting her responding hostility and was not asking for my advice; but I offered it anyway. “What you should do,” I suggested, “is leave a nice candy bar on her desk.”
“What?” she said in response in a tone that let me know I was out of my mind. “I am not going to be nice to her!” From childhood, we have practiced the art of “You hit me; I will hit you back.” What Israel and Iran are doing is international adults behaving as children. When we were children, parents could step in and put us in a corner to cool off. That system does not seem to work internationally.
That being true, my question is when does it stop? When do we quit striking back?
