When She speaks . . .

An out-of-control spiral, a series of poor choices with even more devastating consequences, leadership blunder after blunder - when we see leaders in positions of great authority journey the path where their poor choices take them it takes courage to redirect their course.

It takes real wisdom. It takes genuine understanding. It takes a nuanced intentionality. It takes the right persuasive skill. And sometimes it takes the voice of a mother raised at just the right level to bring a well-intentioned but way out-of-control leader in check.

Enter the Wise Woman of Abel. With just a few words, she not only brought an advancing army to a halt, but also put down a revolt that threatened the stability of her whole nation.

“Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee” (II Samuel 20:16).

Joab was on a mission for King David, and after the insurrection of Absalom the urgency of putting down another revolt against the kingship was preeminent in his mind. Seemingly it didn’t matter how he got the job done as along as he got the head of Sheba son of Bichri and secured the royal throne once again.

And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us. And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri (II Samuel 20:6-7).

The backdrop to the encounter of the Wise Woman with Joab, was a series of poor choices on the part of King David. His sin with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah had set off a domino effect of consequences including rape, murder, insurrection, and war.

In panic mode, Joab had headed to Abel to apprehend the would-be usurper Sheba son of Bichri, laying siege to a defenseless city with all the might and mechanism of ancient Israeli warfare. Battering rams, bulwarks, warriors banked up against the city . . . If there was a better way to achieve Joab’s objectives, he couldn’t see it.

“And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down” (II Samuel 20:15).

Sometimes in the heat of our circumstances as leadHERs, in the midst of endless battles, our minds can’t perceive the most effective avenues to victory. Joab could only see one way to ending another attempted takeover of the government and uniting the tribes of Israel around the throne of David. But when the Wise Woman of Abel spoke, she not only turned an army away from her city, but also the course of the nation back toward unity under David’s leadership.

“And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear. Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter” (II Samuel 20:17-18).

Identifying herself as a mother in Israel, she spoke with authority and clarity into an emotionally charged situation and stopped a potential bloodbath. Embracing a leadership role that some may not perceive as valuable – a mother – she quickly shared a resolution to the conflict, redirecting Joab from a detrimental course of action.

“I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord? And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy” (II Samuel 20:19-20).

Perhaps her story was shared with King David, her role in securing the kingdom and ensuring peace. Or perhaps he was never fully aware of the significance of her words and actions. But the fact that her story is included in the pages of Scripture reminds us as leadHERs of some important truths:

- EMBRACE every God-given leadership role, even the ones that may not be perceived as significant or influential.

- ENSURE that peaceful resolutions become the outcomes, by helping others detach from the negative emotions that underscore challenging situations.

- ENGAGE conflicts with courage, using your voice, wisdom, and unique perspective to help others see alternative pathways.

- EXAMINE the bigger picture, recognizing how one choice or course of action has the potential to impact more than just a singular circumstance.

LeadHERs, my prayer for you today is that you will recognize the significance of the ways in which you have been graced to lead. Never look down on yourself or the role you have been given as inconsequential. You never know when God will use you, right where you are to effect change for those around you!

Your Sister in LeadHERship,

Dr. Margaret R. Frye

Want to learn more about the Wise Woman of Abel’s story? Find it in II Samuel 20:1-26

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