I am so excited to share the story of one of my favorite women in the Bible. Abigail! This is also the name my future daughter will have, should the Lord someday decide to bless me with one. I love her patience, humbleness, loyalty, her commitment to her family, and her boldness. She possesses so many of the qualities that I pray for on a daily basis.
-We find the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. Abigail was in a circumstance that no one would envy. Married to a foolish man, looking at a promise from David to destroy her household and her. And yet she found boldness to get beyond this hopeless situation.
-A quick summary of the story....
She is married to a fool named Nabal...his name literally means fool. Nabal was a wealthy man and in this story he was shearing sheep on his property in Carmel. David was in the desert and heard this, and sent men to go there and greet him. In those times, hospitality demanded that travelers be fed, and so David requested this. He was not asking for a handout, but he was asking for them to be fed, because his men were protecting Nabal's work force and part of his prosperity was due to David's vigilance. Nabal rudely refused the request and the men went back and reported every word to David. Keep in mind that this was the future king of Israel and he knew that, and he still refused this common courtesy to him. David was furious and told his men to put on their swords and four hundred men went back with him. One of the servants went to Abigail and told her what had happened...That these good men that protected their land and that were good to them were refused this courtesy, and that David was coming back to obliterate their household. Abigail took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs (a measuring unit) of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins, two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. She told her servants to go on and she would follow. But she did not tell her husband. As she was riding, she met David coming towards her, and she got off the donkey and bowed to him with her face to the ground. She explained that Nabal was a fool and that she did not see the men come to the land and asked him not to harm her household. David responds saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands. Otherwise, as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, who has kept me from harming you, if you had not come quickly to meet me, not one male belonging to Nabal would have been left alive by daybreak." He accepted what she had brought and sent her home in peace. When Abigail got home, Nabal was drunk and she told him nothing until the next day because of this. When she had told him what happened, the Bible states his heart failed him and he became like stone. Ten days later, the Lord struck him and he died. David sent for Abigail to be his wife and she went to him, and became his wife.
Abigail found her boldness in humility. God gave her a humble heart to overcome her husband's actions and boldly approach the king looking for mercy.
- Circumstance 1 - Her Marriage (her life)
We see that Abigail was a woman of "good understanding." She knew what her marriage vows were and she meant them. She built her home and watched over it. Abigail was faithful to her husband despite his foolishness.
-Circumstance 2 - Facing Death
Nabal put her life on the line. She was facing a death sentence. Imagine how she felt when her servant came to her and told her what her husband had done.
- Circumstance 3 - Acting in Faith
Abigail took inventory of the situation and claimed courage from God and then saved lives. I love how Abigail went to David and humbled herself and bowed before him. Please go in your Bible and read what she said to David in 1 Samuel 25:23-31. You will see why I am so impressed with this lady. It is a key part of this story!
Remember, no matter what situation you are facing, God will supply the script you need for that situation. I know this is something I pray for. I find myself continually at a loss for words and hold back in a lot of situations for fear of not knowing the right things to say. Our circumstances may be different from Abigail's but the solution is the same. Abigail could have taken the easy way out and ran from the situation but it doesn't take a lot of boldness to run away. Remember the story I wrote about Esther recently. This was Abigail's "Esther moment" - God had prepared Abigail for a times such as this. He used her and she was a willing vessel. He orchestrates our lives so perfectly to use us and our talents.
Not every circumstance comes from God but every circumstance does come with God ready to give you boldness to act in faith!
And I leave you with a song....Mark and I have listened to this song on repeat in the car. Our favorite :) click the link...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3OEGnH5x8g
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