In 1 Chronicles 19, we read of a great trial for Israel in the days of King David. David had made a generous peace gesture to the newly enthroned king of Ammon, whose name was Hanun, after the death of Hanun’s father Nahash. David had sent a delegation to comfort the new king in his grief, but Hanun and his princes shamefully abused the delegation and sent them home in disgrace. Then, to make matters much worse, we read that Hanun hired armies from Mesopotamia and Syria to help him to launch an invasion of Israel. Hanun’s plan was that when the Israelites arrived in force to confront the Syrians who pitched near the city of Medeba, they would not only be faced with that army but would soon find the army of Ammon coming up in their rear. To counter this invasion threat from Ammon, David sent an army under Joab, his best general, to go and confront the enemy forces; however, when Joab arrived, he found the enemy deployment to be such that Joab might well be trapped and annihilated.

We can admire Joab’s brave words to Abishai in the face of a possible disaster: “Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” I believe Joab wished only to honor the Lord by courageously facing the trial before him, desiring only God’s will, come what may.

Perhaps you are experiencing a serious trial just now that would threaten to overwhelm you. But like Joab of old, let us behave valiantly, and trust in the perfect will of the God of heaven, who sees and knows our situation. We read in 2 Corinthians 4:8–9, “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” Always remember, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Dt. 33:27).