WATCH WORD – When not to run…
A TELLING TALE FOR ANYONE WHO MAKES A LIVING WITH THEIR MOUTH OR OPINION IN A SOCIAL MEDIA AGE
Absalom was in rebellion and took up arms against his own father, David. Still, David was hopeful his son would not be killed in his attack. Joab (David's General) made certain Absalom was indeed put to death in the battle.
So begins the strange account of two runners and two messages in 2 Sam 19:19-32.
After the battle, Ahimaaz, an eager son of Zadok the priest, said, “Let me run now and take the news to the king, how the Lord has avenged him of his enemies.”
(20) And Joab said to him, “You shall not take the news this day, for you shall take the news another day. But today you shall take no news, because the king’s son is dead.”
Then Joab sent another runner – a Cushite – and told him to “tell the king what he has seen.”
But Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Please let me also run after the Cushite.”
So Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, since you have no news ready?”
“Regardless” he said, “let me run.”
So he said to him, “Run.” Then Ahimaaz ran and outran the Cushite and got there first.
The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
Ahimaaz answered, “I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about.” He could not give David the full message.
The king said, “Stand here.” So he turned aside and stood still.
The Cushite, the second runner was slower but arrived with the full message.
…”And the king said to the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom safe?”
The Cushite told him what he needed to know…”Absalom is no more.”
Thus ends the tale of two runners.
GET A FULL MESSAGE
Sometimes the itch to run and to speak is so strong we don't take the time necessary to get a full message. Indeed, the marketplace is awash with techniques on how to become an overnight expert celebrity.
The danger is that getting to the market first is only an advantage if you are the true master of the message. People are going to be exposed to more than one runner in your field.
LET GOD ORDAIN STOPS AND STARTS
And sometimes, like in this story, you may have the message but God may not want you to be authorized fully to delivers it…yet. God may be doing you a kindness in delay.Sometimes the first person to hit the beach takes the biggest hits for the message. God may be sparing you for a different battle. It's likely that Joab was sparing Ahimaaz, being the priest's son, from being branded as the bearer of a negative report to the king. Joab was sparing him for a better moment.
DON'T LET BREADTH MOVE FASTER THAN DEPTH OR YOU GATHER AN AUDIENCE TO GIVE IT TO ANOTHER
The point is this – it takes thousands of hours to develop real mastery in anything. Don't run so fast that you build an audience or educate a customer only to watch someone else walk off with the sale. Be both the fastest and the ‘bestest'. Don't let your marketing smarts get too far ahead of mastery of your message.
–LANCE
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