No Compromise, Part 4

Abigail froze in place. Someone was wandering outside around the storehouse. She gulped, and moved further into the shadows. She clutched a satchel in her hands, used her left foot to kick the pile of waiting satchels under her skirt, and slowed her breathing to a nice, easy rhythm.

Now if she could just figure out a way to quiet her loudly beating heart. I can't get caught!

The person slowly wandered down the steps into Nabal's underground storehouse. Abigail pushed herself even closer to the wall. She could feel the cobwebs around her, and the thought of the spiders-or worse-that lurked in the shadows sent an itchy sensation across her whole body. She flung her arm over her mouth to keep from shrieking.

The person stepped into the doorway, but Abigail couldn't make out the face.

"Mistress?" The whisper was barely audible, but it was all Abigail needed to hear. "Mistress, it's me."

She stepped out of the shadows to meet her personal servant. Raz jumped a little bit before she realized it was Abigail. She put her hand over her heart, but moved when Abigail's arms surrounded her in a hasty hug.

Raz smiled slightly. "I've just come from the house. Nabal has drunk quit a bit of wine-the servers made sure of it. Anyways, He won't be leaving the house tonight."

She sighed in relief. That was the best news she had heard all night. "That's excellent!" She passed over the partially stuffed satchel in her hand. "Help me fill these!"

Raz took the bag from her, but paused. "Mistress, um...are you sure you want to do this?

"We have to do this. Nabal was a fool for disrespecting David and his men like that. This is our only chance to do something. Otherwise...." Her voice trailed off. According to what Raz's husband had described of the scene, David and his men would be out for bloodshed.

"If he finds out though, it would be just as bad! Just think what he would do to you, if he found out you did this behind his back! And he would know someone would have had to tell you."

Abigail grabbed Raz by both shoulders. "I would never tell Nabal what Ebed told me! I swear it to you!"

Raz's eyes filled with tears, and Abigail felt her stomach turn and lurk. "I have to do this. Otherwise it won't matter if Nabal finds out. We will all be dead, and I won't be able to protect you or your husband then."

Raz blinked furiously at the harsh words, but nodded her understanding.

"Okay. We need to fill these satchels with bread. About two hundred loaves. After this we will move to the other food. Are the donkeys being prepared?"

"Yes, Mistress."

Abigail nodded, though Raz wasn't looking at her anymore. Her mind was focused and set. She had a very difficult task before her. One that may not work. As she shoved loaf after loaf into the bag, she prayed they would make it in time.

Based on 1 Samuel 25:14-18

The servant who told Abigail what was going on took a great risk. Then Abigail took a great risk by gathering up so much food to take to David. If Nabal found out, I'm sure there would have been very serious consequences for both of them.

Remember Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego in Daniel 3? If they had just bowed down to the golden image, everything would have been fine. They never would have gotten to that fiery furnace. What about Daniel?  If he had just been more careful about praying, like you know, in his head with no audible dialogue, then he wouldn't have been thrown into the lion's den. What about Joseph? If he had just given into temptation with his master's wife, then he wouldn't have been falsely accused and thrown into prison for years.

You know, all of these people stood up to the authority figures in their lives, in those particular times. They had some serious consequences, but they were faithful despite the consequences. That's what Abigail and all the servants who helped her were facing. Their actions would not be popular with Nabal, but they didn't compromise due to fear.

No compromise.

Their risks were huge! Yet they didn't compromise! What do we risk? Losing our jobs? Being laughed at or disrespected! From what I see in the New Testament, we should be so lucky to get to that point!

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." James 1:2

No compromise.

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3:8

NO COMPROMISE! Do we look at everything we have, everything that makes us who we are according to the world, and count it worthy to be lost in order to gain Christ? Are we okay with that? Are we willing to put it all on the line in the name of not compromising our belief in Jesus?

I think Elijah said it best:

"And Elijah came near to all the people and said, 'How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.' And the people did not answer him a word." 1 Kings 18:21

Will we limp around in compromise, or will we pick our side?

V. Joy Palmer


Check out http://snackpackdevotionsforkidz.blogspot.com

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