"Whoever would strike the Jebusites,..must go through the water tunnel. So Joab, the son of Zeruiah went up."

This story is so amazing that theologians still debate what actually happened when Joab went up and defeated the Jebusites. Jebusite territory was on a high mountain and a waterfall ran down one side. The Jebusite army placed guards at areas they knew enemies would consider invading but they did not guard the waterfall since no one would ever be able to climb it and make an attack. In 2 Samuel 5:8, David said that whoever would fight against the Jebusites would have to get to them by climbing up the waterfall. 2 Chronicles 11:6 records that Joab accepts the challenge, climbs the waterfall and defeats the Jebusites.

Imagine Joab strapping his sword to his side and looking up the long waterfall wondering how he would do it. He must navigate through the rushing rapids with everything coming against him. Have you ever felt what Joab was feeling? What he wants is at the top of the mountain and he will have to swim upstream to get it.

Did you know that salmon are born in rivers but they grow up in the ocean? Once they reach a certain age, they make their way back to their birthplace. In order to do so, they must swim upstream leaping through waterfalls. They and Joab have proven that swimming upstream is not impossible. Even though everything is against you, you can make it. Keep swimming.