Lessons in Courage from Abigail
Lessons in Courage from Abigail
By Dr. Sherri Tenpenny, Prophecy Investigators Contributor
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The entire chapter of 1 Samuel 25 is interesting and full of lessons. It shows how bad things can be turned into good things, if we make a plan, use our talents, step into our courage, and take action to create a new, better solution.
1 Samuel 25 tells a story about a wealthy man named Nabal and his wife, Abigail. She was intelligent and beautiful, but Nabal was “harsh and evil” in his dealings with her and with others. When Nabal was sheering and butchering sheep, David sent ten of his men and told them to say this to Nabel:
“We come in the name of David. Long life to you, and peace to you, to your family, and to all that is yours…. We protected you and we haven’t stolen from you. Please feed my men and my servants.”
Nabal refused and rebuked them, saying,
"Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? There are many servants today who are breaking away from their masters. Am I supposed to take my bread, my water, and my meat that I butchered for my shearers and give them to these men? I don’t know them, and I don’t where they are from.”
Well, that rebuke made David mad. He decided to raid Nabal’s flocks and kill all his workers.
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But when one of Nabal’s young men told Abigail what had happened, she gathered together a feast and met David and his 400 men as he approached.
She got off her donkey, fell on her face in front of David, blessed him and said,
"My lord should pay no attention to this worthless man Nabal. Accept these gifts your servant has brought…. When the Lord does what He promised and appoints you ruler over Israel, may you remember me your servant.”
David was so impressed. He gratefully told Abigail there would be no needless bloodshed; Nabal and all his workers were spared. When Abigail returned to Nabal, she found her husband was drunk. After he sobered up, she told him about her encounter with David. The next day, Nabal had a heart attack, then a stroke. He became paralyzed and died 10 days later.
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When David heard that Nabal was dead, he sent messengers to speak to Abigail about marrying him. She got up quickly, and accompanied with her five female servants, followed David’s messengers on her donkey and became David’s wife.
What was Abigail able to do?
She saw the foolishness of her husband and took control of the situation.
She made a decision, formed a plan, took immediate action. She trusted the plan would work.
She used her talents – her wisdom and powers of persuasion - to create a peaceful solution.
Her courage no doubt changed the course of history.
She did this at great risk for her own safety from both men - either could have violently rebuked her efforts or killed her.
She asked to be remembered for her leadership; by asking, she was positioned to receive.
When the opportunity arrived to marry David, she once again took immediate and decisive action. She knew he was the right man for her (she probably knew it from the first time they met!)
Where can we – both men and women - use Abigail’s actions in our life today?
Think about a situation where you clearly see the “foolishness of others.”
Make a plan to take control of the situation.
Use your talents, your wisdom, your powers of persuasion, and your courage to create a solution or a resolution to the current situation.
Is an opportunity presenting itself that you are hesitating about? Take decisive action! Don’t forget to ask for what YOU want for your efforts!
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, You give us lessons for today from Your Word, even from stories more than 2,000 years ago that apply to our current situations. Humans haven’t changed much since the time You created us. You give us talents, vision and wisdom. Allow us to use the lessons from Abigail to resolve situations in our life that seem dangerous and insurmountable. Perhaps we will even change the course of history.
Speak courage into our hearts to improve our personal situations and to overcome the difficulties in our world today. Help us form a plan for the best, most peaceful and most pervasive resolution. We ASK so that we may RECEIVE. Grant us our petitions, Lord. Give us what we desire, or something better. Thy Will be done. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Dr. Sherri Tenpenny is a board-certified osteopathic medical doctor. She is the founder of Tenpenny Integrative Medical Center, Tenpenny Health Restoration Center, LLC, medical clinics located near Cleveland, Ohio and several online educational businesses that can be found at DrTenpenny.com. She writes two Substacks per week. The first, posted each Saturday, is called EyeOnTheEvidence, pieces to help the general public understand complex medical concepts. The second, released on Sundays, are inspiration pieces OnWalkingWithGod. She also writes monthly for The Epoch Times.
Dr. Tenpenny has invested 22 years and more than 50,000 hours of personal time, documenting and exposing problems associated with today’s health care system. As an internationally known speaker and author, her many articles have been translated into at least 18 languages. She is a frequent guest on radio, podcasts, and TV where she shares her knowledge and educates people about health care.
