There is a special bond shared between siblings that cannot be matched or replaced by any other relationship. They are the people that grow up alongside you, who create memories with you, make you laugh until your side hurt and the first to know your secrets. Perhaps, they were the ones that helped comfort you when you faced difficult things that no one else could understand, stood up for you against a bully, or rushed to help you finish a chore so that you could hang out together. Even if you don’t always get along, you know they will be there for you when you need them the most.
In 2 Samuel 10, there was a brewing battle, where the Syrians and Ammonites where joining forces to attack the nation of Israel. When Joab, King David’s nephew and also the commander of his army, saw the enemy forming in front of him and behind him, he had to quickly assemble a plan to defend from both sides of his army. He gathered his valiant men to face the Syrians, and then put his brother, Abishai, in charge of another armed force battling the Ammonites, and gave this instruction:
“If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. Be of Good courage, and let us play (join in contest with) the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the LORD do that which seemeth him good.” (Vs. 11-12)
Joab needed someone he could trust at a moment’s notice to help defend the cities of God, and he knew that he could find such a man in his own brother. They literally stood prepared to protect one another’s backs, with the mindset that if one of their armies started to be over taken, then the other would join in helping fight the enemy back.
We are all in the midst of a battle with an adversary that will jump at the opportunity to take down anyone he can get his hands on. He has his eyes on us, and he has his eyes on those we love and care about.
We as Christians need to be ready to help protect our brothers and sisters, whether they are related to us through the blood of our parents or through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Even though the battle can stir up fear, there is a comfort in knowing that someone is fighting alongside you, and for you. May we be the biological and spiritual siblings that speak courage into each other, and remind each other that when all is said and done, we want God to be able to do what He sees as good through us.
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