How can we ensure our actions align with God's will, unlike Joab's? Joab’s Turning Point “When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah though not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar.” (1 Kings 2:28) Joab had served King David faithfully on the battlefield, yet he repeatedly acted on personal agenda: murdering Abner and Amasa, slaying Absalom against David’s command, and backing Adonijah’s coup. When justice finally caught up, he tried to grab safety symbols instead of seeking real heart repentance. His outward show at the altar could not erase a lifetime of willful disobedience. Why Joab’s Strategy Failed • He trusted ritual over repentance. • He chose self-preservation over submission to God’s anointed king. • He acted first, asked later—living by impulse rather than divine instruction. • He never dealt with the root issue: a stubborn, self-directed heart. Guardrails for Keeping Our Actions in Step with God 1. Walk by the Word • Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Daily Scripture keeps motives exposed and decisions illuminated. 2. Trust Before You Act • Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • Waiting on the Lord prevents impulsive choices that feel urgent but are outside His timing. 3. Obey, Don’t Just Appear Religious • 1 Samuel 15:22—“Obedience is better than sacrifice.” • External displays (like Joab clinging to the altar) never substitute for actual obedience. 4. Renew the Mind Continually • Romans 12:2—Transformation through renewed thinking enables discernment of “the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” • Let Scripture shape reflexes instead of cultural pressure or personal ambition. 5. Examine Motives Honestly • James 4:17—Knowing the right thing yet refusing exposes sin. • Regular heart checks—“Why am I really doing this?”—stop Joab-like self-interest from steering the wheel. 6. Rely on the Holy Spirit • Galatians 5:16—“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” • The Spirit supplies both discernment and power to follow through. 7. Welcome Godly Accountability • Joab dismissed Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah—the very voices that could have corrected him. • Seek counsel from mature believers who will speak truth even when uncomfortable. Putting It All Together Aligning with God’s will happens moment by moment: Scripture open, heart surrendered, Spirit depended on, counsel embraced, obedience chosen. Joab teaches what not to do; Christ shows what to do—“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me” (John 4:34). Keep His pattern, and your actions will stay on the path Joab missed. |
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