Mon.’s Devo - Trust God’s Plan

Read: 2 Samuel 2:12-3:19; John 13:1-30; Psalm 119; 1-16; Proverbs 15:29-30 Ishbosheth’s army, led by Abner met David’s army, led by Joab at the pool of Gibeon. Abner suggested that 12 of his best warriors should go up against 12 of Joab’s best warriors. They each grabbed their opponent’s hair and drove their spear through them, killing all 24 of them. The battle began. Joab had two younger brothers, Abishai and Asahel who were fighting that day. Asahel was a very fast runner and ran after Abner, determined to kill him. Abner was much older and more experienced in war. He tried to get Asahel to stop chasing him but Asahel was relentless. Finally, Abner thrust the butt of his spear into Ashael’s stomach. It went all the way through his body and came out the other side. When Asahel’s two brothers found out what had happened they went after Abner with a vengeance and caught up with him on the hill of Ammah. Abner called down to them and begged them to stop warring brother against brother. Joab called a truce and everyone went home but Joab didn’t forget what Abner had done to his brother. When they assessed their casualties, Joab (David’s side) had only lost 19 men where Abner had lost 360 men. For years Israel fought against Judah. Israel becoming weaker and weaker while Judah becoming stronger and stronger. It all came to a head when Abner went in to one of Ishbosheth’s concubines and Ishbosheth reproved him for it. Abner didn’t like being scolded by a weak king so he rebelled against Ishbosheth and went over to David and offered him his loyalty. All David required of him to show his allegiance was to bring back his wife Michal. Abner brought her back to him with her husband crying all the way. Abner then went and campaigned throughout Israel for David and won the people over to David. Joab came back from war and found out Abner had been conspiring with David and was filled with rage. He went and killed Abner out of revenge for what he did to his brother. David was very mad at Joab and mourned greatly the death of Abner. All the people saw that David had no hand in the death of Abner and loved David. David cursed Joab and every generation of his family with a man who has open sores or leprosy or who walks on crutches or dies by the sword or begs for food. It makes me wonder if some of these people were the ones that Jesus came and healed many years later. In John, Jesus was celebrating his last Passover as he was to be the Passover lamb on this one. Jesus knew that Satan had set his trap and was using Judas to betray him. He also knew that he was about to leave and go back to his Father in heaven so he chose to wash his disciples’ feet. He was washing away their sins. Then, Jesus explained to his disciples that what he did for them, they were to do for others. Judas was in the group while he did this which troubled Jesus greatly. He told them that one of them would betray him. When John asked Jesus who it was that would betray him, Jesus said it was the one who he gave the bread to that was dipped in the bowl. He then dipped the bread in the bowl and gave it to Judas Iscariot. Once Judas ate the bread, Satan entered him and Jesus told him to leave. Jesus was in control of everything, even his enemies. Judas didn’t take his life, Jesus gave it. His disciples didn’t understand what was happening at the time, but later they were able to piece it together and realize that Jesus was in full control the whole time. He understood everything that was happening and was at peace with it. Jesus was setting the example of how to die and they would follow his example in this also. Lord, help us to be at peace with all that is happening around us, knowing that we can only do what you tell us to do. You have the whole situation in your hands and you are not anxious or afraid. May we enter into your peace.