Life on the edge

Two men hide in a well for safety until they are able to tell King David of Absalom's plan

2 Samuel 17.17-29

Reference: v.18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left quickly and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.

Explore: There is so much that happens in this short passage. Men hide, a woman conceals, someone suicides, a plot is foiled and an army is provided for. But I think the whole adventure of hiding in a well and being concealed from assassins struck with my vivid imagination. These men had a mission to inform King David of Absalom's attack. They were mere men waiting for a message but it nearly cost them their life.

Application: Imagine having a job where you could die at any moment. I certainly haven't taken up that kind of profession… yet! I think the closest I've come to thinking I was going to die was when I was 10 and went on a rollercoaster for the first time. My family still delights in reminding me of the scene I caused! There are workcover ads at the moment that show a manager asking one of their workers to do a dangerous, life-debilitating job and the question is asked: Would you do what you tell your workers to do?
Now, as Christians we are all given a task: to Love God and Love Others. While I live in Australia in 2007 that is not a life-threatening task. But if it was, would I still pursue it? How much are we committed to following God? Would you continue on the journey even after having to hide in the well to save your life? Our faith journey may not be life threatening but we are often confronted with challenges. It's at those times when our faith is stretched that we come into the true fulfillment of our life in Christ.

Prayer: Lord, no one enjoys difficult times. But if we stay focused on you, we know that you can bring something beautiful out of disaster and dispair. Amen.

2 Samuel