I am doing Bible Study Fellowship this year. I have been a part of it for a few years. I love how in depth it is and studying the Bible that way. If you are not familiar with them, it is three parts. You have your homework questions that you discuss in a small group, a lecture over the verses, and then notes to go over some other points on the same verses.
This year the study is part one of People of the Promised Land. We are going through the books of Joshua, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11 and overviews of Psalms and Proverbs. Although I’ve not gleaned as much out of it as, say, the study of Revelation (amazing if you ever get the chance to do this one), it has had some “light bulb” moments.
This last week we were in 1 Samuel at chapter 25 where David requests of Nabal to have his men be part of the feast at shearing season. It is a reasonable request since David and his men protected his sheep and shepherds while they were in the fields.
Oh but Nabal, he was a “harsh and badly behaved” man (verse 3, ESV) and his name meant fool. He refused and had some less than polite words to say about David (see verses 10-11). But here is what struck me. Nabal was a descendant of Caleb. You know, Caleb of the “Joshua and Caleb”, the spies that were faithful to God and Moses. The guy that followed God all of his life and honored him.
Clearly, Nabal did not follow God like his ancestor did. And that’s the thing – my bible study notes said faith is not inherited. As a Mom, I’ve seen this as I raised my children in the LORD, but could only pray they would choose to follow him as their father and I do. It isn’t just something we could pass on to them like a car, or money, or that ugly painting that someone inherits in a will.
It takes an active choice by our children, and future generations, to choose to follow Christ. Nabal, for reasons we don’t know, didn’t follow God and in a few short verses would be dealt with for his reaction to David (verse 37-38). Thankfully, David was saved in making a wrong choice through Abigail and because he was a man of God, but Nabal dies because of his choice.
The story is a reminder to me to pray for my children and future grandchildren to choose Christ. That they will see through me or someone in their lives that his path is the one to follow. I pray also that when their feet slip from the path, God will help them quickly get back up and follow him. I pray that for generations they will be known as discerning and faithful and not fools like Nabal.
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