Choosing God’s Will: The Example of Joab | Discover the Impact of Aligning with God’s Teachings

Yielding: Choosing God’s will -The example of Joab

What is your response?
Whether it’s a small decision or a major life choice, understanding the power of our reactions and aligning them with God’s teachings can lead to a life of fulfilment and purpose.

Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.”
1 Chronicles 19:13 NLT

I came across this Scripture recently during Bible study, and it made me pause to think. How do we respond to situations or even instructions? Do we give God consideration, or do we just do what we think is best based on physical circumstances or precedence?

In life, there are often moments when we find ourselves at a crossroads, torn between obeying God’s instructions and doing as we please. It is in these moments that we truly define our character and the path we choose to follow. This blog post aims to explore the importance of choosing how we react in these situations and the impact it can have on our lives. Whether it’s a small decision or a major life choice, understanding the power of our reactions and aligning them with God’s teachings can lead to a life of fulfilment and purpose. Join us as we delve into this thought-provoking topic and discover how we can navigate the complexities of life with grace and wisdom.
Our character reference is Joab, who was the head of the army at the time under King David.

Let me give a little context here. In this chapter, David, the King of Israel, was going up against the Ammonites who had asked other forces to help them.
Now David had already been winning battles before this time, and we read in chapter 17 of this same 1st Chronicles the covenant God had made with him, he David had the assurance that God was with him and the people of Israel, and victory in battle was assured.
But my theme Scripture was the words spoken by the head of David’s army – Joab. Joab had won battles for the King, and Joab also knew the God of Israel, and he knew what God was capable of.

Here are my thoughts:

• Based on precedence and what he knew of God, Joab should be sure of victory. So all he had to do was enforce and decree victory. But not so. He enforced God’s will.
• He chose elite troops and assigned specific areas. He prepared and trusted God.

“When Joab saw that he would have to fight on both the front and the rear, he chose some of Israel’s elite troops and placed them under his personal command to fight the Arameans in the fields. He left the rest of the army under the command of his brother Abishai, who was to attack the Ammonites.” 1 Chronicles 19:10‭-‬11 NLT

This is where it gets interesting: in verse 13, which is my theme verse, Joab told his brother Abishai “Be courageous! Let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.”
He told them to fight bravely, i.e.. do your very best, and then he prayed that the Lord’s will be done. Whether victory or defeat, let us do this with all we’ve got, and let the Lord’s will be done.

This is remarkable that a man who is not the king himself chose to uphold the Lord’s will. He asked God’s will to be done. If it’s possible that Israel loses, it does not matter. Only his will should prevail.

When confronted with a situation, what is your response? Do you react from your head, your heart, or your Spirit? There are times we hear the voice of God tell us exactly what to do, but we shut it out or ignore it.
We sometimes try to reason out why it should be a certain way or try to justify why it should be our way.

Recently, I was faced with a decision (this is why this Scripture makes so much meaning to me at this time). My first thought was that I don’t think I am ready for this. But then I took some time to think, and I reminded myself that at this point in my life it’s not what I want or need, but rather what God desires.

As children of God, we need to get to a place in our lives where all we want is to do his will. Sometimes, it might look too hard, difficult, or strange. We might not
even understand it, but we have to accept it and let it prevail.
How often while preparing for an event, do pray for favourable weather.
How many times do we pray that whether it rains or not, the event will still be a success and to His glory.

And we also have to remember that whatever questions we have are always answered in the place of prayer, Word study, and meditation.
Let the faith in your heart position you to let God’s will be done in all things concerning you, you cannot know better that the God who created you, trust and believe that whatever he has planned for you, is always better than anything you want for yourself.
Trust in his will for you.
Be like Joab, not insisting a certain way – after all victory is the best – but praying for God to have his way.
Sometimes, what looks like a win to you isn’t a win at all.

Our response should come from the Word and our desire to do as he purposes.

Fight or flight – choose how you respond.

Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.
1 Chronicles 19:13 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/1ch.19.13.KJV