For a moment last week, Russia seemed headed for a coup or even civil war. After months of complaining about mistreatment by Moscow, the Wagner mercenary group marched on the capital. Then came dueling speeches by Wagner’s leader and Russia’s president, elites fleeing en masse, and an armored column outside the city.  

Then suddenly, it stopped. Each side stood down. Even now, days later, it is not clear what exactly happened or what will happen next.  

The whole bizarre scene offers important lessons about the human condition, and especially politics. We may think that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, but, as in this case, sometimes he’s still an enemy. Just because a guy is on our side doesn’t mean he’s good, or that we are and aren’t bad guys too.  

What happened in Russia is an extreme example to be sure, but we should be careful to see our political leaders through a biblical lens, not political pragmatism.