Gospel Reflections #1035: God's Work in the Midst of Human Schemes

2 Samuel 3:12 “Abner sent messengers to David, saying, ‘Whose do you think this land belongs to? If you make a covenant with me, I will be your ally and ensure that all Israel is on your side.”

This marks a crucial turning point, as the divided Kingdom of Israel began to move decisively towards becoming a ‘united kingdom’ under David.

Following King Saul’s death in battle, Israel had split into two factions and was in a state of civil war.

David, anointed by God, became king in Hebron, whilst Ish-Bosheth, Saul’s son, was also proclaimed king; however, real power was held by General Abner, the supreme commander of Saul’s army.

King Ish-Bosheth, acting as little more than a puppet, voiced his dissatisfaction to Abner, asking, ‘Why did you have relations with my father’s concubine?’

This was because, at that time, taking the concubine of the previous king was regarded as a ‘sign of ambition to seize the throne’.

Enraged by this, Abner completely abandoned the king and plotted to hand over power (in an act of betrayal) to his rival, David.

Abner’s motives were very ‘human and self-serving’—revenge for his wounded pride and a desire to protect himself.

However, in an ironic twist of history (or divine providence), Abner’s betrayal served to accelerate the grand plan that God had originally intended: the unification of Israel under David.

The Bible records that ‘the house of David grew stronger and stronger, whilst the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker’. These negotiations served as decisive proof that the house of Saul in the north was heading inexorably towards self-destruction. 

This passage illustrates the grand theme of Scripture: that God uses even human sin and sordid power struggles (Abner’s anger and betrayal) to fulfil His own promise (the establishment of David’s kingdom).

No matter what schemes humans may devise, God’s plan is being carried out so that it will be fulfilled without fail. Therefore, we should not fix our eyes merely on the ups and downs before us, but rather keep our gaze firmly fixed on God, who is far beyond our comprehension.

AUTHOR'S BIO: This Gospel Reflections page is written by Masae San, who resides in Hiroshima, Japan. Masae is a dedicated student of the Bible with a deep passion for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She shares her daily reflections on Gospel perspectives to reach out to others and spread the message of God's true love through a Christ-centered approach. We are sharing her insights here so that you, too, can experience the joy that comes from knowing and understanding the true Gospel and the love of God through Jesus Christ.