Joab ignored Absalom’s first request for a meeting. Then Absalom sent a second, which Joab promptly set aside as well. So Absalom sent a message in all caps by SETTING FIRE TO JOAB’S FIELD OF BARLEY.

Joab showed up at Absalom’s house a few minutes later.

Absalom moved people to action. The stories about him reveal a strong leader—popular, handsome, and creative. But Absalom also harbored a dark nature—shrewd, conniving and manipulative. His rash acts brought tremendous pain and upheaval to his father David and the nation of Israel.

Absalom torched the barley field that brought Joab running, and finally Joab followed through on Absalom’s request that he set up a meeting with the king. Absalom got what he wanted, even if he used Joab in the process.

Sometimes a rash act gets results, but rarely in my experience does a rash act gain me any friends.

I Samuel 14 in week twenty-one of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Dominik Kiss