by Angela Moreno

A couple of days ago, someone’s good news hit me in a sore spot. Instead of just congratulating the person, I reacted with sarcasm and the situation went south quickly. I had to explain that I didn’t mean to sound so harsh and apologize profusely. I also ended up feeling even worse about my situation because some unkind words were spoken on the other side too. My reaction caused a chain reaction that could have hurt another person and left me in tears.

It’s easy to react in our emotions; it’s more difficult to stop and think rationally about the situation before we react. Or better yet, not react at all.

In 1 Samuel 25, we see the story of David, Nabal, and Abigail. Three situations with very different reactions and a chain reaction that occurs from each reaction. Previously, David and his men had been watching over Nabal’s men and livestock. Some time later, David sends his men to Nabal and reminds him that they had helped him out before. The men ask for food provisions from Nabal, and Nabal reacts with insults and a refusal of help. When David’s men report back, he is furious. Everyone straps on their swords and heads to Carmel to kill Nabal and his men for being disrespectful.

A servant of Nabal overhears the situation and quickly goes to Nabal’s wife Abigail. He tells her what Nabal did and what David plans on doing. The servant asks Abigail to think over the situation and see what she can do about it. Abigail reacts quickly, gathers food provisions, and meets up with David before he reaches Carmel.  She humbles herself bowing in front of David and begs for forgiveness for Nabal’s “foolish” actions. Abigail asks David to take the food provisions she has provided and to spare the lives of Nabal and his men. David hears her pleas and his anger subsides. Abigail and her reaction saves the day!

Each person had a choice to make on how they would react. Two reacted in haste and anger, while one was humble and submissive:

• Nabal. In essence, Nabal started the chain reaction. Instead of acting with gratitude for David’s assistance, Nabal acted swiftly and pridefully refusing to assist David.
• David. David’s reaction wasn’t much better than Nabal’s. Instead of giving grace and just letting the situation go, David decides he is going to kill everyone. A bit drastic of a reaction, but still the reaction David chose. The chain reaction continues.
• Abigail. Abigail reacted quickly as well, but her reaction had thought behind it. She was willing to humble herself and take blame for the entire situation even though she had absolutely nothing to do with. She stops the chain reaction by reacting not with pride but with humility.

How would you have reacted in this situation? Would you be the aggressor or the peace maker? Would you make the situation better or progressed it to the next level?

It’s not always easy to react as Abigail did and humble yourself. Sometimes you aren’t in the wrong and are the one being attacked. However, Proverbs 15:1 says: A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.Sometimes gentle words and a compassionate heart make all the difference in a situation.

I leave you with these words from James 1:19-20: Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.