Gospel Reflections #1126: God's Strategy Instead

2 Samuel 17:5 ‘Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Arkite as well; let us hear what he has to say.”’

This is the decisive moment when Absalom, who had staged a coup, having heard Ahithophel’s flawless plan for a surprise attack—Ahithophel being David’s military adviser—deliberately sought the opinion of another man, Hushai.

This single remark ultimately became a turning point in history, leading to Absalom’s downfall and David’s narrow escape.

Ahithophel, the brilliant military strategist, proposed an extremely rational and sure-fire plan: ‘Select 12,000 men this very night and pursue David; launch a surprise attack whilst he is exhausted, and kill only the king himself. In this way, you can minimise the civil war and secure control over the people.’ Absalom and the elders initially praised this plan and agreed to it.

However, in verse 5, Absalom says, ‘Call Hushai the Arkite as well; let us hear what he has to say.’

Hushai was David’s loyal friend, but, acting on David’s instructions, he had ‘feigned defection’ and infiltrated Absalom’s camp as a spy.

Ahithophel’s plan appeared flawless, yet Absalom could not quite shake off his fear that ‘my father David is a battle-hardened warrior’.

Consequently, he sought to ensure his safety by also hearing the opinion of Hushai, another renowned counsellor.

Viewed within the broader context of the Bible, Absalom’s summoning of Hushai was no coincidence, but rather God’s answer to David’s prayer.

Whilst on the run, David had prayed to God, saying, ‘Please make Ahithophel’s counsel seem foolish.’ God moved Absalom’s heart, prompting him to seek out Hushai’s advice.

When Hushai was summoned, he skilfully stoked Absalom’s fears, lying that ‘David is hiding in a cave right now, laying a trap; Ahithophel’s plan will fail’, and proposed a ‘grand expedition mobilising all Israel’ as a means of buying time.

Absalom adopted Hushai’s plan, and as a result, David was able to buy himself time to flee.

This scene illustrates an important biblical theme: ‘Even a plan that appears perfect to human eyes (Ahithophel’s counsel) can be overturned by a single spur-of-the-moment decision (summoning Hushai) in the face of God’s providence.’

God’s providence does not change according to our merits or faults; He is a God who is with those who believe in and obey Him, and human wisdom alone cannot alter His providence.

At all times and in all circumstances, we should walk forward with complete faith in God Himself and His promises.

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.