What can we learn from Hushai's actions about God's sovereignty and human plans? The Verse in Focus “So Hushai, David’s friend, returned to the city, just as Absalom was entering Jerusalem.” (2 Samuel 15:37) Hushai’s Risk and Reward • Hushai reaches David on the Mount of Olives, loyal yet willing to lay aside personal safety. • David sends him back as an undercover counselor, charged to frustrate Ahithophel’s advice (15:32-35). • Hushai obeys instantly, arriving in Jerusalem at the critical moment Absalom walks in. Result: one ordinary man, quietly positioned, becomes the hinge on which a nation’s future swings. Sovereignty on Display • 2 Samuel 17:14 explains why Hushai’s counsel prevails: “For the LORD had determined to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.” • God’s purpose drives the outcome; Hushai is the chosen instrument. • Timing, location, and outcome all align with God’s determined will, showing that heaven’s plan governs earth’s chessboard. Human Plans Still Matter • Hushai thinks, speaks, and acts; his craft and courage are real, not robotic. • David strategizes (“If you return… you can frustrate Ahithophel,” 15:34). • Absalom holds council, weighs options, and makes choices. • God’s sovereignty does not cancel human planning; it overrules and incorporates it. Scripture Echoes • Proverbs 19:21 — “Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.” • Proverbs 16:9 — “A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” • Genesis 50:20 — Joseph recognizes God steering hostile schemes for good. • Acts 4:27-28 — Even the cross occurred “according to Your purpose determined beforehand.” • Romans 8:28 — God “works all things together for the good of those who love Him.” Each passage pairs human intent with divine intent, always concluding that the latter stands unshaken. Lessons for Our Journeys • Trust God’s unseen choreography. When circumstances feel chaotic, God is still threading history. • Obedience in the mundane can tip spiritual battles. Hushai’s simple “return to the city” becomes a pivot point. • Use your God-given intellect and relationships; strategic thinking honors the God who rules through means. • Do not fear powerful opposition. Ahithophel’s brilliance and Absalom’s momentum collapse under God’s overarching decree. • Expect God’s timing to be perfect—Hushai arrives “just as Absalom was entering,” neither early nor late. • Rest in the certainty that God’s sovereign purpose will prevail, yet engage fully, knowing He delights to work through willing servants. |
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