Original Entry: June 5, 2007
10 Joab saw that there were battle lines in front of him and behind him; so he selected some of the best troops in Israel and deployed them against the Arameans. 11 He put the rest of the men under the command of Abishai his brother, and they were deployed against the Ammonites. 12 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. 13 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." 1 Chronicles 19: 10-13
When I was a kid all the boys in the neighborhood had a summer ritual. After scrounging up all the loose change we could muster from lint pockets and the washing machine we would pedal across Foothill Boulevard to George’s Market where we would purchase whatever our nickels, dimes, pennies and quarters could afford. I was the most “husky” kid in our posse and my brother was the smallest, which usually made us the last two to arrive.
This day was no exception.
On one particular day we pedaled over to George’s Market but the light flashed yellow just as my buddies entered the intersection. My brother (who was behind me) stopped as the light was turning, pink but I pedaled through. With all my thick legs and purple Schwinn, with the banana seat sparkling in the sun, could muster I was only halfway into the intersection when the light turned red! Instantly I caught the flash of yellow as a Pinto crashed into the side of the Stingray launching me into the intersection. I was scratched and bleeding but this chubby nine-year-old was more afraid of what my dad would do when he found out that I had crossed the street on a pink; uh, red light.
I wiped the dirty tears form my fourth grade eyes and did the best I could to assure everyone on the scene that I was fine and limped my wounded Schwinn home. My brother was really shook up, crying, and glued to the other side of the street. As I approached my weeping little brother he cried, “I have to tell mom.” I will never forget trying to come up with some bribe to change his mind and in an instant, was hit by a thought of sheer genius. Reaching into the pocket of my Husky denims I pulled out my prized possession, the only quarter I had and handed it to him in exchange for his lifelong silence.
He agreed. He never said a word.
It was the covenant of one brother to another and Tom came through like a champ.
In this passage we have a similar covenant between Joab and his brother Abshai. Surrounded, Joab and Abshai promised to come to the aid of each other and Joab sealed the deal with inspirational words from one brother to another; “Be strong and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His sight” (13-NASB).
The New International version says something a little different, “Let us fight bravely.”
Part of being a man is being mentally, emotionally and spiritually “strong.” Strength, however, is tested through resistance. Strength does not come to the neutral. Strength comes only to those who choose sides and fight for what they believe is true. Strength comes from resistance and resistance will cause us to fight or flight. The problem is that a man can fight without the “win or die” attitude that Joab and Abshai clearly possessed. Fighting bravely is fighting with a win or die attitude. Anything less is not fighting to win; thus, not fighting bravely. Win or die courage comes from covenants made with “our people” and “our God”.
Who are your people? Who do you consider your family members? Who are those in your ministry circles?
Better yet, who is your God? Is he Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords? Or is he some weak sauce god on one of the many religious spokes leading nowhere?
When those with whom a man has covenant come under attack it is his time stand up and trust his God with the results.
Who needs you to be in the fight for them today?
