Am I getting your attention?

2 Samuel 14.1-33

Reference: v.31 Then Joab did go to Absalom’s house and he said to him, “Why have your servants set my field on fire?”

Explore: Absalom needed to seeing Joab so that he could speak to the King on his behalf. However, Joab had refused two requests, which moved Absalom on to more extreme measures. I’m not sure Absalom’s technique of setting Joab’s barley field on fire was quiet the pastoral, patient, caring way to go about it. However, it certainly got Joab’s attention.

Application: My husband and I have been really struggling to get the attention of a government department for the sake of our foster daughter. We have tried to go through the correct lines of communication and we have been patient for 3 months. However we have a strong sense that we are not being listened to. And at this stage, I am very tempted to start a fire in someone’s barley field. I’m not condoning pyromania. I have the impression that the fire in Joab’s barley field had a huge impact on him, his family and all his workers also. Our actions can have a bigger impact than we realise. However, I also feel that many of us don’t push hard enough for things that are important and life changing. Should we ruin someone’s livelihood for our own selfish ambition? No. But should we sit back and be complacent about highly significant issues? I know God didn’t. He was so concerned about us that He went to the greatest measures and sent us His Son. I believe that God calls us to be just as extreme.

Prayer: Lord, I often find it really difficult to know what the best course of action is when I come up against difficulties. May I be generous, courageous and confident when I come to doing your work. Amen.

2 Samuel