Band of Sisters

2 Samuel 10:11-12

“Joab said, ‘If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and rescue you. Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in His sight.”

My sister’s growing up years was around the time I was dorm-based. That’s more or less missing a thousand days for five years.  When finally I was settled back home, it was her turn to move out. Guess what happened after she decided to quit that school? I got married.  Six years after, that’s today, we’re again miles apart. Seas apart to be exact. Ironically, this is our closest relationship ever. I never cared for her as much as I do now. Never prayed for her as often as I do now. Can’t even remember telling her ‘I love you’ before. But I do now. And I feel so loved as well. Her stories eased my lonely first days here and her crazy laughters revived mine. Sadly, her side turned most raging and so rough these past few weeks. My shift has come to give her needed lift. I know the Lord will do what is good in His sight.

When Nahash, king of the Ammonites died, David sent a delegation to express his sympathy to Hanun concerning his father. But instead of gratitude, they were falsely accused as spies, their beards half-shaved, their garments cut off in the middle at the buttocks, and they were sent away greatly humiliated. It sure did provoke a war with Israel and these challengers even hired thirty-three thousand more men to fight alongside them. Seeing the battle lines infront and behind him, Joab, David’s general, knew it will be a hard fight for them. His strategy was to divide the task with his brother and to look after each other for emergency assistance. He never said he’d be all-strong for him. In humility and truth, he admitted he too could be needing Abishai’s strength. His speech reverbed ‘for Israel and for God’, but he opened up the stage for God to make His final statements. It was the plan of his heart, but he also gave his brother the perspective that it is still the Lord’s purposes that will prevail: ‘I know that Lord will do what is good in His sight.’ It is the confidence that the Lord will act upon His goodness. Win or lose, God will have the glory.

I found myself lost for words at the second blow of my sister’s path downhill. The battle was just too strong for the family, and even without a personal struggle to wage war with, I felt my full strength was already drained and the connecting tunnel was growing thin. Not even those ‘band of brothers’ could guarantee safety for each other. But there is one Strength we can run to. The One greater than our enemy’s intimidating chariots and swift horses. He gives power to the faint and to him who has no might He increases strength. A sufficient grace, a power made perfect in weakness. I may slumber and stumble but God is ever watchful to my sister. The Lord will do what is good in His sight. I know.