GOD’S WILL BE DONE

As well as a strategic planning meeting between two military leaders, this was a conversation between two brothers—Joab and Abishai.

They drew up a plan for dividing their forces to attack both the Ammonites and the Arameans simultaneously, with one army in front of them and the other behind them. If one group was being overwhelmed, the other would come to its aid.

With the military strategy in place came the brotherly exchange: “Be courageous! Fight bravely.” That was their part of this undertaking, but there was another element: “May the LORD’s will be done” (2 Samuel 10:12, NLT) It sounds like the prayer Jesus gave to His disciples: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

It is an expression of submission, perhaps surrender—if that is not too inappropriate a term for military leaders marching into battle.

These brothers had assembled their men, surveyed the forces of those coming against them, and made their plans. They encouraged each other to be brave in carrying out those plans. But they recognized that the outcome was in mightier hands than theirs.

The wisdom of the book of Ecclesiastes sets out this same pattern.

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)—while acknowledging that “the race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong . . . but time and chance happen to them all” (Ecclesiastes 9:11).

The best of our human effort is necessary and good, but it gives no guarantee of success. Instead, we should look for and pray for God’s presence and His will to be done. This means that sometimes success might look different than we imagined.