ChangeMakers: Unsung Women of the Bible (Vol 2)ნიმუში

Abigail

When I was a kid in the 80s, I loved the Choose Your Own Adventure book series. Each book had multiple storylines that you could explore by making different choices. At the bottom of each page were a set of questions that would send you to a new scenario.

“You see a mysterious path in the woods you’ve never noticed.”

You decide to explore it immediately, in case you forget where it is.
Turn to page 9.

You’re curious but don’t want to go alone, so you head back to town to get your friends.
Turn to page 23

After reading a page, you’d get to decide what the character did next - and each adventure ended differently! There wasn’t just one ending to the book.

This wild and wonderful chapter of 1 Samuel 25 is like one of these Choose Your Own Adventure books. There are three main characters - Nabal, David, and Abigail. Faced with a range of high-consequence choices in a complicated situation, you don’t need much imagination to realize there were multiple ways this story could have ended.

Abigail upends the stereotype of a timid, obedient wife by challenging the men around her to tell a better story. She demonstrates that obedience to God is more important than obedience to culture, ego, or the roles society places on us. In her wisdom and courage, she offers us this question, too.

When all of this is over, what story do you want to tell?

Here are two practical steps you can take in response to 1 Samuel.

1. Name your “this”.

Before you reread this chapter, stop for a moment. What is your “this”?

What dilemma are you facing?
What unexpected challenge lies before you?
What opportunity is presenting itself to you?
Take a moment now to name your “this”.

Then, read this chapter a second time.

2. Choose your character.

This time, as you read, make a note of Nabal, David, and Abigail's personal qualities. You may want to write down their names and then name as many of their characteristics as you can.

Some of them are explicitly mentioned.
Others you’ll observe in their words or behaviour.
When you've described these characters, take a moment to choose yours.

Now, ask yourself again...

When all of this is over, what story do you want to tell?

Prayer & Meditation

There are many foreshadowings of Christ throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, and Abigail is one of them.

As you meditate on this artwork from Bible Art depicting her, consider the following aspects of her story:

- She comes riding a donkey
- She presents an offering for Nabal’s trespass
- She asks David to let the blame for the offense fall on her alone
- She declares the Kingdom of God by prophesying over David
- She is a peacemaker
- She washes the feet of David’s servants

Review the list you made. What is your "this" right now that is holding you back or standing in your way from moving forward with God's courage and guidance? Ask the Spirit to inspire a vision of what story you might tell when all “this” is in your past.

Thank God for the qualities and characteristics He wove into your very being when He created you.

Written by Jess Basson

Photo Credit: 1 Samuel 25:20 by Bible Art