ABIGAIL: HUMBLE AND WISE

ABIGAIL: HUMBLE AND WISE

Abigail is known for her wisdom, courage, and humility. Her name means “Father’s Joy.” Abigail was the widow of Nabal and the wife of David. Although she had no idea where her journey was taking her, Abigail stepped out in faith and acted to save her people.

It Wasn’t About Her!

Abigail is described as quick-witted and a problem solver. I’m amazed that a woman known for these qualities is also known for her humility. Abigail did not hesitate to do what was best for her community. Abigail was not concerned about how she looked, she was not adding up the cost of the gifts, and she was not afraid to humble herself before the King. It wasn’t about her! She realized that to avoid conflict, she needed to humble herself.

 “Please forgive me if I say a little more. The Lord will always protect you and your family because you fight for him. I pray that you won’t ever do anything evil as long as you live.” 1 Samuel 25:28 CEV

A Humble Spirit

Here is a woman bowing down before the King. A King who vowed to destroy her husband and his men. Abigail was married to Nabal, a wealthy but rude man who acted selfishly. Nabal had insulted King David; therefore, King David and his army planned to retaliate by destroying Nabal and his forces. This is where Abigail steps in. Her servants ran to her and shared the account of what was taking place (I guess they knew who was wise enough to handle the matter, and it wasn’t Nabal. The translation of Nabal is fool.)

Upon hearing about the situation, Abigail, without hesitation, decided to gather provisions and head out to meet King David and his men. That’s some courage! Not only was she quick-thinking – a problem needed to be solved – she did not hesitate to sacrifice her safety to save her people. Abigail jumped on her donkey and rode out to meet the King and 400 of his men!

Timing is Everything

After meeting with David, Abigail returned home to find her husband in a bad way, so she waited before offering any updates. Abigail again shows her resolve and wisdom in her decision to postpone sharing with her husband. I’m not sure what I would have done in this situation. I hear my husband has offended the King, and we are all doomed. I gather gifts and provisions, jump on a donkey, and ride out to meet them, all 400 of them. I fall on my knees and, by God’s grace, save my people. I jump back on my donkey to return home to find my husband intoxicated. Talk about a challenging day! And what does Abigail do? She waits until it’s the right time.

Lessons Learned

I found myself rereading the story in 1 Samuel over and over this week. I needed to learn from her example. God was working through Abigail. Her power was from God. She was remarkable because of her belief and faithfulness. Her leadership qualities – wisdom, courage, and humility – allowed her to overcome her enemies and save her people. I think next time I need advice on conflict resolution, I will remind myself of Abigail.

“David told her: ‘I praise the Lord God of Israel! He must have sent you to meet me today. And you should also be praised. Your good sense kept me from taking revenge and killing innocent people.’” 1 Samuel 25: 32-33 CEV