How easy and natural it is to rejoice when our enemies suffer misfortune, especially if it comes to them when they are trying to do something against us. There is a story recorded in the ancient literature of the rabbis, that when the ministering angels in heaven saw the Egyptians drowning, they began to rejoice. However, God rebuked them and said, "The works of my hands are perishing, so why are you rejoicing?"
While this is not a story from the Bible, it does remind us that God made all people, and he loves "the whole world," not just people like me. While we might want to see fire come down on the heads of people we think are our enemies, God loves them. He wants to see repentance and salvation come down on their heads so that they too can be saved and not die.
We must always remember that even those we do not get along with are made in God's image. The Messiah died for them no less than he died for us. We are told to pray for them, not rejoice at their suffering. In this way we will be like our Father in heaven.
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your friends, hate your enemies.' But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you?" (Matthew 5:43-46)
"We were God's enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his son." (Romans 5:10)
May the Lord help us to see others through his eyes, to love our enemies just as God loves us.