Biblical Examples of Enemies of God Becoming Followers
The Bible presents several instances where individuals who were once considered enemies of God or his people undergo a transformation and become followers. This theme highlights God's capacity to change hearts and bring about reconciliation.
One prominent example is the Apostle Paul, originally known as Saul. Before his conversion, Saul was a zealous persecutor of Christians, actively seeking to imprison and punish those who followed Jesus [10]. His encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus dramatically altered his life's trajectory, leading him to become one of Christianity's most influential apostles and a devoted follower of God [10].
Another instance can be seen in the broader prophetic expectation of enemies being converted. The prophet Zechariah foretells a time when those who were once enemies of religion, having narrowly escaped divine judgment, will become "sensible of the mercy of God" and apply themselves to the worship of the God of Israel [6]. This suggests a future conversion of adversaries into worshippers. Similarly, the book of Proverbs notes that God "can turn foes into friends when he pleases," indicating divine power to change hearts and bring about peace even among those who were once at odds [9]. This transformation is not always immediate but can be a result of God's working in their lives, sometimes through affliction [5].
While the Bible also speaks of God becoming an enemy to his own people when they rebel against him [7, 8], it also demonstrates his ability to convert those who were previously hostile. The concept of "the Adversary" (Satan) is introduced in Job as one who stations himself among the "sons of God" [1, 4], and in Matthew, the adversary leaves Jesus after temptation [2]. However, the focus on human enemies becoming followers underscores God's redemptive power, turning those who oppose him into those who seek to follow him as "dear children" [3].
Sources
- Job “Job 2:1 (YLT) — And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and there doth come also the Adversary in their midst to station himself by Jehovah.”
- Matthew “Matthew 4:11 (Rotherham) — Then, the adversary leaveth him,—and lo! messengers came near, and began ministering unto him.”
- Ephesians “Ephesians 5:1 (Geneva1599) — Bee yee therefore followers of God, as deare children,”
- Job “Job 1:6 (YLT) — And the day is, that sons of God come in to station themselves by Jehovah, and there doth come also the Adversary in their midst.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflictions of the Wicked, The — God is glorified in -- Ex 14:4; Eze 38:22,23. God holds in derision -- Ps 37:13; Pr 1:26,27. Are multiplied -- De 31:17; Job 20:12-18; Ps 32:10. Are continual -- Job 15:20; Ec 2:23; Isa 32:10. Are often sudden -- Ps 73:10; Pr 6:15; Isa 30:13; Re 18:10. Are often judicially sent -- Job 21:17; Ps 107:17; Jer 30:15. Are for examples to others -- Ps 64:7-9; Zep 3:6,7; 1Co 10:5-11; 2Pe 2:6. Are ineffectual of themselves, for their conversion -- Ex 9:30; Isa 9:13; Jer 2:30; Hag 2:17. Their persecution of saints, a cause of -- De 30:7; Ps 55”
- Zechariah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Zechariah 14:16: Three things are here foretold: - I. That a gospel-way of worship being set up in the church there shall be a great resort to it and a general attendance upon it. Those that were left of the enemies of religion shall be so sensible of the mercy of God to them in their narrow escape that they shall apply themselves to the worship of the God of Israel, and pay their homage to him, Zac 14:16. Those that were not consumed shall be converted, and this makes their deliverance a mercy indeed, a double mercy. It is a great change that the grace of God makes upon them”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 63:10: 63:10 But they rebelled: See also 1:2, 4; 59:1-15; Pss 78, 106. • Persistent disobedience and unbelief grieved his Holy Spirit (Ps 106:33; Matt 12:32; Mark 3:29). • he became their enemy: Examples include Israel’s period of wandering in the wilderness (see the book of Numbers), the period of the judges (see the book of Judges), and the period leading up to the Exile (see the book of Jeremiah).”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 66:14: 66:14 flourish like the grass: Contrast 40:7; 64:6. • God’s enemies included the disobedient from the foreign nations and from within Israel (see 61:2; 66:6).”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:7: Note, 1. God can turn foes into friends when he pleases. He that has all hearts in his hand has access to men's spirits and power over them, working insensibly, but irresistibly upon them, can make a man's enemies to be at peace with him, can change their minds, or force them into a feigned submission. He can slay all enemies, and bring those together that were at the greatest distance from each other. 2. He will do it for us when we please him. If we make it our care to be reconciled to God, and to keep ourselves in his love, he will incline those that have bee”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 11:4: The apostle, having given us a more general account of the grace of faith, now proceeds to set before us some illustrious examples of it in the Old Testament times, and these may be divided into two classes: - 1. Those whose names are mentioned, and the particular exercise and actings of whose faith are specified. 2. Those whose names are barely mentioned, and an account given in general of the exploits of their faith, which it is left to the reader to accommodate, and apply to the particular persons from what he gathers up in the sacred story. We have here those”