Observation: Over and over, there are advisors to the leaders of Jerusalem who - for lack of a better term - plot and scheme to advance their earthly thinking. These plots often seem bad at the time they are initiated, and turn out even worse. The case of Absalom is one such example. Absalom killed his half-brother. He clearly has a heart of pride and arrogance, as will be proven through every action of his recorded life. Yet Joab wants to convince David to allow Absalom to live in Jerusalem and be re-accepted as a prince. This will go terrible.
It seems the question 'why would Joab plot to influence this action' goes unanswered. However, perhaps in the very first sentence here the question in answered. Joab coordinated a plot to manipulate Absalom's return because ... David was sad over the absence of Absalom. Joab wanted to "fix" that. In doing so, he completely ignored the fact that God could have fixed this simply by speaking to David to do it. He thought he was the one wise being who could advise the king, and then even went so far as to assume the king wasn't wise enough to even listen to his council and thus he needed to roleplay a lie and manipulate the logic to present the advice.
The fact was that Absalom was a bad man and had imposed an exile upon himself knowing the proper punishment for his actions was death. Joab wanted to change the situation (the exile), but didn't want to address the problem (Absalom's character). This may be a key point when it comes to the way people in the bible manipulate and plot to change situations. They plot to change the situation, but do not address the reasons for the existing situation. The list of circumstances to which this applies is ... far too much to even list. Cain's anger over rejection, Abraham's negotiation for Sodom, Jacob's feud with Laban, Reuben's quest for reconciliation, Saul's subtle disobedience ... these are just a few cases where people feel justified in actions they conceive to correct a circumstance without correcting underlying causes.
On the flip side, that isn't what God does. God addresses the root issue and changes the underlying cause of the issue, then allows the issue to resolve from there. The broad-spread sin of the world, the arrogance of Joseph, Israel's fear to enter the land, David's lust ... in all cases, the Lord addresses not the worldly issue created by the issue, but the nature and heart that caused the issue, sometimes over years and decades of correction, which then creates a different outcome.
And this is how Jesus also interacted with people. He didn't just forgive their sin; He didn't just give poor people money; He didn't just heal and forget. Instead, Jesus would then speak and teach into the hearts of all, giving a lesson to repent, to change, and to believe in faith in the promise of the Messiah. He wanted lives - not conditions - to change, and even corrected people when their conditions improved but they retained their old lifestyles.
Application: The Church today has a lot of plots to help people's situations, but we sincerely lack efforts to address underlying behaviors and thus change lives. Some churches have gone so far as to embrace, support, and encourage those underlying behaviors, affirming lifestyles that destroy lives. That is how people respond to problems, but it isn't how Jesus wants us to respond.
Prayer: Lord, I know of only one hope for the lives of the people of the world, and that is Jesus. I know there are issues that my own hard heart creates, and sometimes I pray to you to change those situations. Today, I pray, please soften my heart and change the conditions within me that may create worldly issues around me, so I may better reflect your love toward others. Amen.
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