Women in the Bible - Abigail

The story of Abigail is about a young woman who was known for her wise counsel.  Although her story is brief, she played an important part in the life of David.  There is much we can learn from this courageous woman.  She knew God ordered her steps.

    When David was running from King Saul, he and his men had escaped to the wilderness in Paran.  Nabal, a wealthy man and his wife Abigail, lived near the area where David and his men were camping.  David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep, so he sent ten of his men to ask Nabal if he would give them some food and other provisions.  Nabal denied this request.  David became angry as he and his men had voluntarily protected Nabal’s shepherds and flocks.  It was customary to expect some return for this service.

    Abigail knew in her heart that David’s request was reasonable.  Her husband was wrong in refusing it.  She prepared a generous supply of special foods to give to David and his men.  Since Abigail knew Nabal would forbid her from giving away the food, she left in the stillness of the night.  As she hurried to meet David, she found him on his way to invade their land.

    With great courage and tact she apologized for her husband’s rudeness; then she begged David to accept the food she had brought and forgive them. 

    This woman was brave!  She did not allow fear to set in.  She knew the right thing to do and she did it.  She used wise judgment!  If she had not used godly wisdom, her household would have been destroyed.

    Can you imagine how David must have felt?  Here he was on his way to destroy this woman’s home.  He humbly accepted Abigail’s offering and sent her home with the following promise, “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me.  May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.”  I Sam 25:32-33

   When Abigail arrived home, she found Nabal very drunk.  She decided to wait and talk with him the next morning.  Again, Abigail was using common sense.  The next morning when Nabal was sober, she told him about David’s plan to destroy their land.  The news so shocked Nabal that he had a heart attack.  Within ten days, he died.  When David heard Nabal had died, he asked Abigail to become his wife.  Praise God for faithful women!