Impossible? Watch This!
Opening Prayer
Lord, thank You for the privilege of being in Your presence. Give me ears to hear and a heart to trust.
Read 1 Samuel 29:1-11
[1] The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel. [2] As the Philistine rulers marched with their units of hundreds and thousands, David and his men were marching at the rear with Achish. [3] The commanders of the Philistines asked, “What about these Hebrews?” Achish replied, “Is this not David, who was an officer of Saul king of Israel? He has already been with me for over a year, and from the day he left Saul until now, I have found no fault in him.” [4] But the Philistine commanders were angry with Achish and said, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He must not go with us into battle, or he will turn against us during the fighting. How better could he regain his master’s favor than by taking the heads of our own men? [5] Isn’t this the David they sang about in their dances: “‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?” [6] So Achish called David and said to him, “As surely as the LORD lives, you have been reliable, and I would be pleased to have you serve with me in the army. From the day you came to me until today, I have found no fault in you, but the rulers don’t approve of you. [7] Now turn back and go in peace; do nothing to displease the Philistine rulers.” [8] “But what have I done?” asked David. “What have you found against your servant from the day I came to you until now? Why can’t I go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?” [9] Achish answered, “I know that you have been as pleasing in my eyes as an angel of God; nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go up with us into battle.’ [10] Now get up early, along with your master’s servants who have come with you, and leave in the morning as soon as it is light.” [11] So David and his men got up early in the morning to go back to the land of the Philistines, and the Philistines went up to Jezreel. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
How does David escape having to fight his own people?In the previous biblical chapter, the writer left us with a cliffhanger (cf. 28:1,2): How can David fight for the Philistines against Israel? How can he not fight without the Philistines killing him? Now battle is imminent. David’s situation looks impossible. God’s solution should make us laugh. It is David’s enemies, the Philistine commanders, who save him, while his boss apologizes for denying him the opportunity to fight his own people! Impossible? It happened! Impossibilities abound. Some are physical, some emotional, some financial, some mental. Impossibilities have a nasty capacity for undermining our trust and leading us down wrong paths. Yet we have two assurances: First, we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear (cf. 1 Cor. 10:13). Second, whatever God chooses to do or not to do, he will in the end work it all out for our good (cf. Rom. 8:28). Now that is going to be some show!
Apply
What seemingly impossible things would you like God to do in your life or in the lives of people you care about?
Closing prayer
Lord, some things I want to believe seem impossible. “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).
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