“And when Joab had gone from David’s presence, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah. But David did not know it.” ~ II Samuel 3:26
REFERENCE:
Joab heard that his archrival Abner, who killed his brother and was Saul’s military chief, visited David to give him Israel’s throne, and David let him go unhurt. Joab loathed this for two reasons: Abner killed his brother, and he sought revenge; also, his position as David’s military chief could be threatened if David allied with Abner. So, he sent for Abner, whom they met at the well of Sirah.
Sirah in Hebrew means ‘departure’ or ‘the place of turning.’ Abner had a fruitful discussion with King David and was on a mission to gather all Israel to David so that he might reign over them (II Samuel 3:21). Joab’s envoy met him at Sirah, pretending that David called for him. It is the place of turning and departure. Abner was turned away from his mission and was distracted from his purpose. His decision to depart or turn from his journey cost him his life.
Allowing distractions on your journey toward destiny can be disastrous and detrimental to your well-being. If the devil cannot make you sin, he will distract you. He will lead you away from the right path, from the road that leads to life. Bishop Idahosa once said, “If you give the devil your attention, he will give your life a new direction.” A well refreshes and restores travelers with its water, but the well of Sirah became a well of distraction from purpose.
There are wells of Sirah around us that we should beware of; they may appear harmless but can become distractions and destroy us: relationships with the opposite sex, money, amusement or entertainment, fame, pleasure, friendships, etc. For some people, their well of Sirah is their inability to say NO because they want to please everybody; others are very simple-minded and unquestioning. Abner did not question the strange request; it cost him his life.
Not every request, pleasure, or prosperity is from God. The tribe of Issachar became a band of enslaved people because they were distracted by rest and pleasure. What wells of Sirah do you go to – things that turn you away from your commitment to God or distract you from your academic pursuit, marital fidelity, building your business, or achieving your goals? Avoid them!
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Genesis 49:14-15, John 4:11-15, and Proverbs 4:25-26
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
+ Are you still pursuing your life’s mission with the same zeal with which you began it?
+ Have you abandoned your appointed journey, having ‘turned aside’ to start a different one?
+ What is your well of Sirah? Can you identify the things that distract and turn you aside?
+ How will you combat your distractions – both internal and external? WRITE THESE DOWN.
