LESSON 5 *October 23 - 29
Abigail: No Victim of Circumstances
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
1 Samuel 25, Isa. 28:23, 53:12, Dan. 9:15–19, Matt. 15:10, Rom. 8:34.
Memory Text:
“Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But what is in the heart of fools is made known” (Proverbs 14:33, NKJV).
Have you ever felt a victim of circumstances? Have you ever wished you could be somewhere else? Or that you were someone else? Consider, then, the character for this week: Abigail.
She was an intelligent and beautiful woman but, unfortunately, married a selfish, short-sighted, and mean man, Nabal—a descendant of Caleb, but nothing like his esteemed forefather. Nabal may have been wealthy, but his name or nickname, which means “fool” or “foolish,” accurately reflected his character.
In the time of Abigail and Nabal, marriages were prearranged, and so Abigail probably had no choice in the matter. Circumstances seemed to speak against her in such a marriage as this. Conditions were not favorable, but in the glimpse that we are given into the life of Abigail, we are encouraged not to become victims of circumstances.
Abigail did not try to escape reality. She was realistic about her situation (1 Sam. 25:25), but she did not let circumstances ruin her. She decided to grow where she was planted.