021. Coals of Fire

Coals of Fire

(Romans 12:20) The Scriptures have much to say about forgiving our enemies. Paul says that if we give food and drink to our enemies, "we shall be heaping coals of fire on their heads." To us this doesn’t sound like forgiveness, but like taking vengeance. In the Bible lands almost everything is carried on the head-water jars, baskets of fruit, vegetables, fish or any other article. Those carrying the burden rarely touch it with the hands, and they walk through crowded streets and lanes with perfect ease. In many homes the only fire they have is kept in a brazier which they use for simple cooking as well as for warmth. They plan to always keep it burning. If it should go out, some member of the family will take the brazier to a neighbor’s house to borrow fire. Then she will lift the brazier to her head and start for home. If her neighbor is a generous woman, she will heap the brazier full of coals. To feed an enemy and give him drink was like heaping the empty brazier with live coals,-which meant food, warmth, and almost life itself to the person or home needing it and was the symbol of finest generosity.

"Thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head."