If you have been in leadership long, conflict is a word you understand but dread. I am not talking about a disagreement over certain facts or a misunderstanding because of poor communication or an organizational snafu because of a bad decision, but real conflict. A philosophical difference that goes to the core of two or more individuals that has festered and now has the emotions tangled up with the facts so that every word and action is misunderstood, misinterpreted, and brought under scrutiny to such a degree that there appears to be no way to resolve the conflict. Read 1 Samuel 26.

Saul was the reigning king of Israel. Samuel the prophet had informed Saul that because of his actions of disobedience to God the kingdom would be removed from him and his family line. Saul also knew that Samuel had anointed David to be the future king. And, even though David was not trying to assert himself and “take” the throne, Saul saw David’s every action as a threat to himself and his family. There was real conflict between Saul and David to the point that if Saul had anything to say about it, David would be killed.