In 1 Samuel 25:1-25, we read about Abigail. She is a beautiful and wise woman, who is married to Nabal, a wealthy man who owns huge flocks of sheep and goats. The Bible tells us that he is a very rude and unpleasant man.
David, who is on the run from Saul, sends ten of his men to Nabal to request provisions for him and his men. David thought this to be a reasonable request, since he and his men had been helping Nabal’s household and not stealing any of their sheep. Nabal refuses David’s request and insults David’s messengers. David gets so angry that he gathers four hundred of his men to go against Nabal.
Discovering what Nabal had done and not telling her husband, she gathers food supplies and loads them on donkeys and heads out to meet David. She falls on her face before him and pleas for David to spare her husband’s household. Although she admits her husband is a man of bad character, she reminds David that his life is in God’s hands. She tells David that his enemies will be destroyed because of God’s justice, but David’s own house will endure. She only asks in return that, when God fulfills everything, David will remember her. Abigail’s humble response turned David’s heart. He saw the error he was about to make. He had just recently spared the life of King Saul, who sought to kill him. Yet David had been quick to exterminate the household of a man who had merely insulted him. His life of exile had angered him, and this anger had nearly driven him to seek vengeance against a man who was not the real enemy.
David listens to Abigail’s wise words and respects her for her wisdom and humility. David sends Abigail away with a blessing and promises her safe return to her home and to preserve Nabal’s men. Nabal dies ten days later. After his death, David sends messengers to Abigail and asks her to become his wife, and she agrees.
As women, there are a few things we can learn from Abigail. Although she was a rich woman, she remained humble. When she was about to lose everything, she didn’t yield to fear, and she acted in wisdom. Abigail had faith in God and recognized His plan for Israel. Sometimes we are so quick to focus on our difficult circumstances that we fail to see God’s plan unfolding before our eyes. Lord, help us to respond in humility and wisdom when our enemies try to discourage and defeat us.