Authentic Manhoodنموونە

The Firefighter

Firefighters have tough jobs, and whatever the situation, they gear up and go in. But one thing they don’t carry with them is gasoline. Imagine a firefighter adding more fuel to the fire? That would be crazy!

In 2 Samuel, we read a story of 3 men—one fire starter and two firefighters.

Chapter 11 is the famous story of David and Bathsheba and David’s destructive handling of the situation. David instructs Joab to allow Uriah to die in battle, which is an insane order, as Uriah is a valiant warrior.

David had started a fire.

Why does Joab follow through with this? Some might say he was just following orders from the king. But I wonder if there is more than that.

In chapter 3, we see that Joab treacherously murders Abner (the former leader of Saul’s army). And how does David react?

“May his blood fall on the head of Joab and on his whole family! May Joab’s family never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food…May the Lord repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!” (2 Samuel 3:29; v.39b NIV)

Those are strong words. Yet, when he is in his own situation, David does exactly what Joab did and murders his “opponent.”

Now Joab has something he never had before: leverage over the king. He and David are both guilty of the same thing, and Joab can now hold him to his own words.

It’s like he was a firefighter standing at the fire, ready to throw the bucket of gas in his hand. But we never read that part of the story. Why? Because in God’s goodness, He sends another firefighter, Nathan, to speak to David (2 Samuel 12) and put the fire out.

As men, the question isn’t whether we will have “fires” in life but rather how we will battle the flames. Will we add fuel to the fire like Joab could have, or will we be like Nathan, who approached the king with the truth of his sin and the truth of God’s heart?

One firefighter makes things worse. The other is God’s agent of good.

Which one will you be?

Prayer: Jesus, thank You for being with me in the fires of life. Help me to be a firefighter who puts out the flames rather than adding fuel to them. Amen.

Reflection: What is one situation where you have added fuel to the fire? Find a way to do something about it. It might not be too late!