Suppose you were a wealthy person, with desirable possessions, who hears that a raiding party has just attacked a neighbor’s mansion, overtook it, and were now headed to your gates. How would you respond? Throughout the Bible, we see many raids and wars. Most times, when made aware of the coming attack, the people would prepare to defend themselves, and attack as well. Inevitably loss of life would occur, a horrific mess would be left behind, and the winner would rule over everything left behind. Would you face death or slavery to defend your home and possessions? Most of the time it seems our ancestors chose to fight, sometimes taking it before the Lord first, and sometimes by the leader’s choice. However, they didn’t always win.

King Y’ho’ash (Yehoash) was only seven years old when he became king. Following the directions of his trusted priest he did what pleased God for forty years with one exception–he didn’t remove the high places where people offered sacrifices to other gods. Y’ho’ash learned that the king of Aram had overtaken the area of Gat and had decided to come after Jerusalem as well. “Y’ho’ash king of Y’hudah (Judah) took all the consecrated articles that Y’hoshafat {Jehoshaphat), Y’horam (Jehoram), and Achazyah (Ahaziah), his ancestors, kings of Y’hudah, had dedicated, as well as his own consecrated articles and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of ADONAI (the Lord) and of the royal palace, and sent them all to Haza’el king of Aram, who then withdrew from Yerushalayim.” (2 Kings 12:19 (18)) Instead of pulling the army together he just gave them what they were coming for. They took it and went away leaving the people alive and the countryside untouched. Would you fight to the end for possessions you value?

“If someone asks you for something, give it to him; if someone takes what belongs to you, don’t demand it back.” (Luke 6:30) That’s what Jesus says to do.