The Bible has numerous records of how bloodshed and other calamities were averted. A clear example is the one in the Book of Esther. King Ahasuerus was hoodwinked by an evil man called Herman into signing a decree to authorise the annihilation of the Jews throughout the Kingdom. It took God’s divine intervention using Mordecai, Queen Esther and the same King to cancel the decree and spare the Jews. In this article we are going to look at two examples of situations where two women also intervened to avert bloodshed. We are living in unprecedented days when you and me might be expected to learn the ‘spiritual art’ of stepping in as Esther, Mordechai, and these two women did to save ourselves and our people from the ill intentions of demonized blood thirsty individuals.
A Brief Background first.
It is worth noting that King David had close blood relatives as his top military officials. They included Abishai, Joab, Asahel and Amasa. Was this a good or bad thing, or was it God’s will, or were they appointed on merit? I sure do not know. All I know is that it is recorded that there were fighting’s among them. Joab murdered Absalom – David’s rebellious son, Abner and Amasa. David struggled to control them or even to execute judgement over them. He had for instance demoted Joab from being commander and promoted Amasa – whom Joab decided to kill. The two stories of the two women involve King David and Joab in their capacities as military giants. In the case of Joab, he is involved as a leader who had in a way imposed himself as still the commander even after killing Amasa – the man who had replaced him.
Abigail – How she Averted Bloodshed.
Please make time and read 1 Samuel 25: 1 – 42. In this scripture reference David though anointed King by Prophet Samuel was living with several of His supporters as fugitives constantly running away from King Saul who wanted him dead. At this point they had taken refuge in the wilderness of Paran. He met shepherds of a wealthy man called Nabal looking after His animals. He sent ten of his young men to the wealthy man to politely ask for some food supplies so he could feed his followers. Nabal responded very rudely and refused to release the needed food supplies. This response made David very angry and he decided on going to attack Nabal and to kill him with his entire household. Nabal’s wife Abigail got informed by one of the servants about her husband’s bad attitude and about David’s threat to cause bloodshed. That is when she rose to the occasion and averted the bloodshed.
One of the servants told Abigail in:
Verse 17
“Now therefore know and consider what you have to do for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household”.
Abigail immediately gathered some food items and hastily went to meet David to apologise for Nabal’s behaviour and to plead for mercy.
Verse 24 and 28
“She fell at his feet and said, upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thy handmaid… I pray thee, forgive the trespass of thine handmaid”:
Verses 32, 33 and 35
“And David said to Abigail, blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me. And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, who has kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with my own hand. So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see I HAVE HEARKENED TO THY VOICE AND HAVE ACCEPTED THY PERSON”.
A Certain (unnamed) Woman who averted bloodshed.
Her story is recorded in 2 Samuel Chapter 20. Please read the whole chapter for clearer context. A man called Sheba from the tribe of Benjamin – probably a blood relative of King Saul – decided to stage a rebellion against King David. Verse 1 says:
“…. He blew a trumpet, and said, we have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel”.
2 Samuel 20: 1
David had initially appointed Amasa to quell the rebellion but he got killed by Joab who insisted on crushing the rebellion with his brother Abishai. Joab and his men went and surrounded the city where Sheba the rebel leader was hiding.
“…. They battered the city wall intending to throw it down. Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I might speak with you …Art thou Joab? …Hear the words of thine handmaid…..I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?”
2 Samuel 20: 15 – 19
” And Joab answered and said: Far be it, far be it from me that I should swallow up or destroy”.
2 Samuel 20: 20
Joab then suggested to her that the city should deliver the rebel to him then he would depart from the city. The woman agreed and made sure that was done. Because of her wisdom and swift action bloodshed was avoided.
Lessons for each of us:
First, we learn that the blood thirsty monsters will threaten, intimidate, scare and instill fear in the people to paralyze them. Yes – fear torments. Hence most people end up thinking they deserve the status quo and that there is no way out for them.
Secondly, we learn that blood begets blood. In any community or country everybody who gets killed, tortured or mistreated in anyway is SOMEBODY ELSE’S relative. Those relatives will seek for revenge. Think about Uganda for instance since Independence in 1962 – how many families have lost relatives through unexplained deaths, been tortured, or unjustly imprisoned? In the Bible stories we’ve discussed above I want to say a bit more about Joab. His brother Asahel tried to kill Abner who in self-defense killed him instead. Joab then sought for revenge and killed Abner. He later killed Amasa who was appointed to replace him as Army Commander. Earlier on the same Joab had killed Absalom – David’s son. This distressed King David and he instructed his son Solomon to make sure when he became king that Joab would face judgement. These were relatives getting rid of one another. Joab also teaches us that the more one kills the more blood thirsty they become. Not surprising that in pursuing Sheba son of Bichri he wanted to ‘carpet bomb’ the whole city. We are told that Joab and his men:
“…battered the city wall to throw it down”
2 Chronicles 20:15
We also learn that appointing government or military officials based on tribalism or nepotism, can be counterproductive in the long run. This can lead to serious unforeseen consequences.
A positive lesson is that God Almighty is well able to intervene – but continues to look for courageous and compassionate people to stand in the gap on behalf of the land. We learn from the stories that such people do not have to be ‘prayer experts’. Any child of God with a genuine relationship with the Father through Christ Jesus can stand in the gap.
Lord teach us to pray:
The disciples asked our Master – “Lord teach us to pray”. I believe we can deduce at least two interpretations to this request. One is that God should anoint us with the desire to pray fervently as a lifestyle. Secondly it would mean – Lord give us specific guidelines to intercede regarding particular issues. Yes, I want to urge our Brothers and Sisters who are prophetic and able to teach – to seek the mind of our Father God and mobilise and teach the rest of us to pray in unity for our Land. God will surely hear and help us. The God who melted and softened the stony hearts of David and Joab not to commit atrocities can transform all our leaders and indeed our entire nation.
May God Teach You and Me to Pray.
Amen
