Editorial: Let Us Fight Together

Paulo Macena serves as the director of the Communication and Youth Ministries departments for the New Jersey Conference.

Israel was at war with the Ammonites, who had a great army, including Aramean soldiers (see 2 Sam. 10). Joab, the wise and courageous general of David’s army, selected some of the best troops and deployed them against the Arameans. Then, he put his brother, Abishai, in charge of the rest of the army and deployed them against the Ammonites.

Joab told Abishai, “If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you are to come to my rescue; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to 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” (2 Sam. 10:11-12, NIV).

There is a great lesson in unity to be learned from this story. Joab divided the soldiers to conquer the enemy. His message was clear: We are in this together. We don’t need to feel that we are fighting alone. We have a common enemy.

The enemy, Satan, is attacking the church from all sides. This battle alone is more than enough. We don’t need another battle among ourselves, wasting our time, resources and energy. We should learn from Joab’s rallying cry, “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.”

We are living in the last days, and it is time to protect each other from the attacks of the enemy. The battle is not ours. God will do “what is good in His sight,” and this should be enough. We shouldn’t try to control the battle. We have to trust that He is still in control of His church and our battles.

-Paolo Macena