“Avshalom lived two years in Yerushalayim without appearing before the king. Then Avshalom summoned Yo’av, planning to send him to the king; but he refused to come to him. He summoned him a second time, but he still wouldn’t come.”-2 Samuel 14:28-29
Avishalom had three children.
One of his daughters was named Tamar.
He named her after the sister who was raped.
It turns out this Tamar also grew up to become stunningly beautiful.
Two years came and went, and Absalom started to grow restless.
He may have returned to the city of the great king, but he still hadn’t met his father.
Absalom was growing sick and tired of being treated like an outsider.
Wasn’t he the king’s son after all?
Finally, he decided to call upon Joab again.
The general had succeeded in bringing him back to Jerusalem.
So why couldn’t get also persuade David to fully forgive him and restore his standing?
That’s what Absalom was thinking anyway.
However, we’re told Joab ignored him.
Twice.
What was going on in Joab’s mind?
Why had he turned cold towards Absalom, especially after going through so much trouble to bring him back?
Well, here’s what I think was going on.
When Joab succeeded in getting David to allow Absalom to return to Jerusalem, he was hoping this would pave the way for a full return to grace.
When that didn’t happen, it dawned on him that maybe he was betting on the wrong horse in terms of who would become the next king.
Perhaps he should now be placing his bets on David’s other son, Solomon, to become the next king.
Do you see what I’m getting at here?
Joab didn’t want to be tied to someone the king had sidelined and whose future looked grim.
It could be seen as a blatant move to prop up Absalom.
This could cost Joab his position as David’s general or even his life.
Let’s stop here for the takeaway.
So we see that Joab is the kind of man who’ll stand with you.
But only if standing with you serves his own interests.
The moment he senses your value is slipping or your future looks uncertain, he’ll disappear.
No loyalty.
No heart.
No backbone.
Just cold calculation.
But a true friend?
A man of real character?
He doesn’t take attendance based on your status or your usefulness.
He’s there when you rise, and he’s still there when you fall.
Absalom learned that the hard way.
Let’s hope we don’t have to.
Choose your allies carefully.
Not everyone who fights for you is willing to bleed with you.
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