Unnecessary Conflict - Part 2
1 Chronicles 19v9-11
14th November 2008
Remember that, last week, we saw how the Ammonites, because they felt insecure, misinterpreted David's kindness, and saw it as a threat. We saw how they over-reacted and how things went from bad to worse. Now we read on.
1 Chronicles 19v9-10a
The Ammonites came out and drew up in battle formation at the entrance to their city, while the kings who had
come were by themselves in the open country.
Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him
You've got to feel a bit sorry for Joab. It wasn't his fight - it was David's. And it wasn't David's fault - it was the Ammonites'. But Joab was head of David's army, and he had a job to do. His role was to prevent the Ammonites invading Israelite territory.
Sometimes, we find ourselves in a very difficult, stressful situation - that isn't our fault. And we might cry out to God "Why did this happen to me?" as if God is being unjust with us. But every Christian should know that God has given us far more than we deserve. Joab was in this situation because of the foolishness and sin of other people. That's how it is. We live in the world and other people cause us stress and trouble. And God's people through the ages have found the same thing. God does not protect all his people from all stress all the time.
The Ammonites had hired Aramean mercenaries (see verses 6 and 7). When Joab got to what was to become the battle site, he found Ammonites on one side of him and Arameans on the other - he was in a crossfire.
And it wasn't his fault.
He didn't whinge at God. He didn't find someone to blame (although that would have been easy enough). He got on with doing what he could to improve the situation.
1 Chronicles 19v10b-11
so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. He put the rest of the
men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites.
No general likes to divide his army, but when you're fighting on two fronts, that's what you have to do.
And sometimes, we feel like we're fighting on many fronts. What are we going to do? We could give in. Or we could direct everything we have at one foe. But sometimes we have to fight several battles at once. It would be nice if we only had to pray about one issue at a time, but we don't always have that luxury.
If you have several battles to fight, you might follow Joab's example; give your best resources - your best prayer time, perhaps - to one battle line, but make sure you also put some of your resources into your other struggles.
Some Christians have sad track records of winning one fight - for example, about a particular sin habit - while (as it were) leaving their flank exposed for other sin habits to take route.
Joab was wise. He got on with the job at hand. And he protected himself and his fellow soldiers with all the resources at his disposal. And we should put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6v11f) to protect ourselves and our brothers and sisters.