What does Absalom's escape teach about seeking God's guidance in difficult situations? The Scene: Absalom on the Run “Now Absalom fled. Meanwhile the young man who was standing watch looked up, and there were many people coming down the road west of him from the slope of the hill.” (2 Samuel 13:34) Absalom has just murdered his brother Amnon. Instead of turning to the LORD for direction or repentance, he bolts for safety in Geshur (vv. 37–38). This moment, brief yet loaded, invites us to weigh our own reflexes when life turns hard. Key Observations from the Escape • Absalom reacts, he doesn’t seek. • He relies on political connections (his grandfather Talmai) rather than divine counsel. • A lone watchman spots the fugitives—an image of accountability even when we think we’ve slipped away unnoticed (cf. Numbers 32:23). • The text records no prayer, no prophetic word, no altar. Silence toward God is itself a statement. What the Flight Teaches about Seeking God in Crisis 1. Human schemes never replace divine guidance. • Proverbs 3:5-6—“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… He will make your paths straight.” • Contrast: Absalom leans on strategy, not surrender. 2. Unresolved sin clouds discernment. • Psalm 32:3-4 describes the heavy, confusing hand of hidden guilt. • Absalom’s bitterness over Tamar’s violation festers into murder, then panic. 3. Running may feel safer than repenting, but it deepens trouble. • Jonah 1:3 mirrors the same impulse to flee God’s face. • Isaiah 30:15—“In repentance and rest you will be saved; in quietness and trust is your strength.” 4. God offers guidance to any who ask. • James 1:5—He “gives generously to all without finding fault.” • Psalm 32:8—“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” Absalom never asked; he therefore never received. Practical Steps for Us When Pressure Hits • Pause before you move—bring the mess into God’s presence (Philippians 4:6-7). • Search your heart for hidden anger or revenge (Psalm 139:23-24). • Seek counsel from the Word and from godly believers (Proverbs 11:14). • Wait for clear direction rather than forcing outcomes (Psalm 37:7; 27:14). • Trust God’s justice—He rights wrongs in His time (Romans 12:19). A Cautionary Contrast: David vs. Absalom David repeatedly “inquired of the LORD” (1 Samuel 23:2; 2 Samuel 5:19). His son, in the same book, simply runs. The difference foreshadows their destinies: David is restored; Absalom spirals into deeper rebellion (2 Samuel 15). Encouraging Promise to Remember “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it.’” (Isaiah 30:21) When turmoil strikes, God stands ready to guide. Absalom’s escape warns us what happens when we ignore that offer—and invites us to choose a better way. |
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