Unnecessary Conflict - Part 3
1 Chronicles 19v12-15
27th November 2008
Last time, in our study of 1 Chronicles 19, we saw how Joab and his brother Abishai were caught up in a conflict that wasn't their fault. Often, that's just how it is. We don't only have to face the consequences of our own sin and foolishness, but also of the sin and foolishness of others.
Joab and Abishai were caught between two armies. Joab decided to fight on one front, with his brother fighting on another.
1 Chronicles 19v12
Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to rescue me; but if the Ammonites
are too strong for you, then I will rescue you."
We're all in a battle. We all have problems. We all have good days and bad days. And the church is supposed to be a team. The Bible calls us God's family (Galatians 6v10, Hebrews 2v11) and we should look out for each other.
We should come to our brother's aid if he asks for it. But Joab shows us more than that; we should make sure we're aware of how our brother is doing. And we should rescue him from whatever is too strong for him.
Perhaps a brother is beset with some sin. Perhaps he is addicted to alcohol or drugs. Perhaps he suffers from depression or some other illness. Whatever is too strong for him to deal with alone, we should fight against, too.
And Joab, a mighty warrior, was not too proud to admit that he might find himself unable to handle what life throws at him, without help. He, too, might need the support of other people.
1 Chronicles 19v13
[Joab continued] "Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The
Lord will do what is good in his sight."
Dear Christian, remember that we're not just fighting for ourselves. Whenever we overcome sin, apathy, cynicism, negativity, we win a battle for God's people and God's kingdom.
Every right act and every wrong act have impact in this world. Even the ones that we think nobody sees.
In Bible study, in celebrating the Lord's Supper, in supporting our local church, and in prayer, we struggle against the powers of darkness, within us and outside us. For God and for His people. We need to be strong and brave. And we need to fight.
And we need to remember that God is powerful, and He will do what is right.
1 Chronicles 19v14-15
Then Joab and the troops with him advanced to fight the Arameans, and they fled before him.
When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans were fleeing, they too fled before his brother Abishai and
went inside the city. So Joab went back to Jerusalem.
Humanly speaking, the odds were stacked against Joab and his brother, and the men with them. But they fought anyway. They put together a battle plan, they were committed to each other's protection, they stood strong, they supported each other and they fought bravely. And God gave them victory.
The history of the church is full of stories of Christian men and women overcoming what seemed like long odds, because God was with them. You and I can have the same experience.