As much as this is uncomfortable to say, the truth is that the most wicked enemies you will ever face, are often those of your own household. The ones you called brothers, besties, and sisters. The very friends you grew up with and shared hard times with, are sometimes the ones who turn on you and backbite you.
A Biblical Parallel from Ezra
Israel faced similar trials when the remnant returned from the second captivity in Babylon. They had just come back to their homeland and were trying to rebuild the foundations of the temple. That had been destroyed when King Nebuchadnezzar took them into captivity. The full account is in the book of Ezra. Consider this excerpt from Ezra 4:1-5 (NASB1995):
Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the Lord God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.” But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.” Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
The very people who disguised themselves as helpers to the builders of the temple were, in reality, their enemies.
Disguised Help and Real Betrayal
This is no different in real life. In the same way Judas kissed Jesus before betraying Him into the hands of the priests. Your own brother or sister can smile to your face and plot your downfall that same night. This often becomes most evident when you are doing better or show any real signs of progress. Out of jealousy, those you thought were your own end up exposing themselves. If they cannot stop you, they turn everyone else against you. All for what? They simply do not want you to be better than them. They are content to be your bestie, friend, or brother—as long as you are not doing better than they are.
One comment I came across on social media said, “The best way to know your enemies is when you start winning in life.” And indeed, this often proves true.
Check Your Own Heart
Perhaps I have got this wrong, and you are the one hating on a friend or sister who appears to be doing better than you. Or maybe not. Remember: taking your brother or sister down by no means means you are doing better than they are. And if someone else is hating on you, bringing you down does not automatically make their life better either.
Turning to the Lord in the Midst of Betrayal
If you are in this situation—where those you once thought had your back are now laughing at your downfall, turn to the Lord. Surrender to Him all your worries and struggles. Where human strength fails, He endures. Where the enemy raises earthquakes, He raises your standard. What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn for good. This is how powerful our God is—Christ our Lord. As it is written in Philippians 2:10 (NASB1995):
so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
When you entrust those who hate you to the Lord. He will fight your battles just as He fought for Israel coming out of Egypt. So He will fight for you, even when your enemies appear bigger than you. No matter how scary the circumstances may seem, remember that Goliath looked exceedingly horrific in the eyes of many Isrealites. Not until David, who knew God, stepped into the fight.
The same will be true when you call on the name of the Lord while your enemies plot more schemes against you. In the end, only the Lord shall reign.
Love Overcomes Evil
And do not forget: Jesus taught us to love one another. Love your enemies as you love yourself. Where they seek to hurt you, seek reconciliation. When they strike you on one cheek, turn the other. Evil cannot overcome evil; it only spirals the contention. Only good can overcome evil, because in the end, only love will prevail. Love is the greatest—let it lead you.
