Abner's Defeat: 2 Samuel 2:18-32
God is our greatest source of strength in times of trouble. When we are weak, He is strong. When we feel alone, He is still by our side. There is no battle He cannot win.
Abner is pursued by Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. These three individuals were David’s nephews, the sons of his sister. This partially explains their rise in leadership among David’s military, but only partially. Regardless of family closeness, rebel bands of warriors survive best if the talented leaders lead.
Asahel is tasked with bringing down Abner. Should Abner fall, his military will be thrown into disorder and potential collapse. It could be the precipitate for the fall of Ish-bosheth’s support and the event bringing David into power over all the Hebrew people. Asahel knows the importance of his chase, and he gives Abner a good one.
Abner doesn’t want to die. He also knows his men are beaten and he needs to retreat. He calls out to Asahel and encourages him to stop the pursuit. He reminds Asahel he is a grizzled veteran general, and he doesn’t want to be forced into a position of killing Asahel. He tries to get Asahel to chase one of the younger and less experienced soldiers still involved in the battle and take his spoils of war from them.
Asahel knows the situation. Asahel isn’t committed to being a victor. Asahel is committed to bringing Abner’s war to a grinding halt. He is committed to the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, Asahel pays the price. He falls for a trap set by Abner and dies when Abner’s spear thrusts all the way through his body.
Joab and Abishai take up the pursuit, especially once it is discovered Asahel is dead. They refuse to let Abner go until Abner points out how many Hebrew people have died and how many more will die. Joab sees wisdom in Abner’s words, knowing his side already carried the day. Abner calls for a truce and in doing so he acknowledges defeat. He was the one who initiated the conflict out of his strength; he is the one who walks away from the battlefield with his tail tucked between his legs.
In the end, hundreds of Abner’s forces lay dead while barely more than a dozen of David’s forces lay dead. God clearly fought on the side of David. Abner’s forces lost fifteen times more people than David’s forces.
It is easy to underestimate God’s ability because He often feels like a hidden player. We sometimes forget the power of His presence because we don’t see it in action. God is not specifically mentioned in this story, yet the overall body count indicates His presence. He fights the battles in ways we cannot see. He is the master at protecting the underdog and bringing victory out of what looks like defeat. God is our greatest source of strength in times of trouble.
