Abigail

How do you handle moody, angry or just plain foolish people?

Anyone who knows me knows that I have no tolerance for nonsense. If I can, I walk away from those people...and stay away.

But what if we can't walk away? What if it's people we work with or live with?  What if it's family or someone we are forced to encounter often...then what?

There is a story in the Bible of a woman who faced foolishness everyday. She was married to Nabal, a man whose name literally means fool.

Her name is Abigail and her story is found in 1 Samuel 25.

David is on the run from King Saul but ends up providing protection for the shepherds of the wealthy but foolish sheep shearer, Nabal.  As a little payback,  David requests food for him and his men.

Nabal brashly rejected David's request..  So now, David is both hungry and angry (aka hangry). He swears to kill the men of Nabal’s household.

Abigail is told about David's plan to kill her family. She quickly gathers food, meets David on the road, and makes a plea for mercy.

In her appeal, she carefully crafts a little mention of David’s sling shot.  Nothing like food and a mention of a past accomplishment to boost a man’s ego! She speaks into his future and urges him to not waste time on needless bloodshed.

David listens and relents.

Soon after these events, Nabal dies and David asks Abigail to be his wife. She is no longer the wife of Nabal - the fool, she is now the wife of David - the future king of Israel.

The message of this story is simple. Abigail understood her position of influence. She changed her surroundings rather than her surroundings changing her.

She stayed consistent.  She didn't sulk about her lot in life; after all, being married to Nabal couldn't have been easy. The Bible describes Abigail as beautiful and intelligent, and that is who she continued to be, never missing a beat and saving the lives of many.

Whatever (or whoever) you are facing today, I pray you understand your position of influence...not to be dragged down by others but rather to lift others up.

Like Abigail, God can use YOU to change and even save the lives of those around you.

~ Binu