Abigail

In 1 Samuel 25, I read about a woman named Abigail who was noted for being a woman of good understanding. She was intelligent and sympathetic, and she possessed the ability to settle differences with mutual agreements. Her wisdom was shown through her faith in God. He keeps covenant and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments. Her faith was demonstrated through her love for God and for her neighbor.

Faith without works is dead. (James 2:20 KJV)

Abigail’s faith was demonstrated through her marriage to Nabal. Nabal was a very wealthy man. The Bible says that his possessions were in Carmel: three thousand sheep, and one thousand goats. He was wealthy, but he was also full of pride and arrogance. He used his influence of wealth and power to control those subject to his authority. In fact, Nabal’s very name meant fool.

The story of Abigail took place during the time when jealous King Saul was seeking to kill David. David was hiding in the wilderness of Paran, where Nabal’s shepherds were tending the sheep. While David and his men were in the wilderness, they became as a wall to Nabal’s shepherds. David’s men were protection for the shepherds—not hurting them or taking anything from them.

In the wilderness of Paran, David received word that it was sheep-shearing time for Nabal. Sheep shearing is a time of festivity, with food and drinks. David knew that Nabal was wealthy and would have more than enough to share. Since his men had shown so much kindness toward Nabal’s shepherds, David thought Nabal would not mind sharing out of his abundance. But rather than returning the kindness, Nabal railed at David.

One of Nabal’s young men told Abigail to consider what she must do; for there was certain to be trouble for her and her family. The young man said that Nabal was such a scoundrel that a man could not speak to him. (1 Samuel 25:14-17)

After hearing this news, Abigail ran to God, seeking His direction for how to deal with her foolish husband. Significantly, she ran to God rather than running to Nabal; a wise woman picks her battles carefully.

Abigail did not spend time fussing with her husband over the imprudent words he had spoken to David. Instead, she got busy doing what was right. Abigail knew that, through faith, she could ask God, and He would come through for her. If we wand God to answer our prayers, then that must be our expectation when we pray. Faith moves God!

Romans 12:11 tells us that we are not to be slothful in business while we serve the Lord. Abigail became busy doing that which was right. She trusted God, and He showed her how to do everything that needed to be done.

Abigail hurriedly prepared the best of her substance for David: two hundred loaves of freshly baked bread, two bottles of the best wine, five sheep that had already been slaughtered, one and a half bushels of roasted corn, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred fig cakes. God showed her the way to David’s heart.

If your enemy is hungry, feed him. (Romans 12:20 NKJV)

Abigail could have given half-heartedly, but instead, she chose to give her best. She did just what God does; He gives us His best.

What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:9-11)

Through faith, Abigail trusted God and gave David her best. As my faith in God began to grow, I came to realize that God desired for me to come before Him not with a cup but rather with a bucket. Faith moves God.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes

to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those

who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV)

We must not put limits on our trust in God. God is a big God who can do above all that we may ask or think. God does not want us to think small; we must make our thinking big enough for God to fit in. God wants us to trust Him for great things.

Abigail possessed a confident attitude that God would work things out for her and for the good of her entire family. Abigail must have seen God work many times in the past while dealing with her foolish husband; therefore, she had no reason to doubt Him. God had always made a way, and if He did it for her before, He would surely do it again.