Did you ever say something at home, and then hear it back, transformed, from your child’s teacher? Many people have been embarrassed to hear how their innocent comments have been misinterpreted by their children because of a lack of sophistication or an incomplete understanding of the situation. When my son’s teacher called to report that he was telling the class that his father used to be a spy, I found myself in the awkward position of needing to explain: “I thought it was a bit too complicated to describe my job in the Army as a Morse Code intercept operator. I served during the Viet Nam conflict, and part of what I did was listen to radio transmissions sent by the other side. So I made it simple; I did tell him – correctly – that I was a spy!”

Hushai the Arkite was not only David’s spy within Absalom’s circle of advisers, he was a disinformation officer and propagandist! And, WOW!, was he ever good at his job!! He knew just the right strings to pull and buttons to push to get Absalom to take the actions that would be most favorable to David. Compare his advice to that offered by Ahithophel: he gets right to the heart of the emotions by using the phrase “your father” when Ahithophel was clinical in saying “David” and “the king;” he engages Absalom by using the word “we” rather than Ahithophel’s use of “you;” and he flatters Absalom by encouraging him to lead the attack and take the glory, rather than following the safe (and wiser!) course offered by Ahithophel.

Don’t skim over the last part of verse 14: “For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.” Throughout David’s roller coaster ride of following God and turning away, and sinning and repenting, and trusting his advisers and ignoring them, God is still working to ensure that His purposes are going to be achieved in David’s life. And, by the end of the chapter, Ahithophel commits suicide rather than waiting to be executed for treason, because he knows without a doubt that David is finally going to be victorious.

As a former spy, I might have a greater appreciation for Hushai’s role than you do. But I hope that we can share the real application found in this passage: God is big enough to overcome my intellectual and emotional and self-centered ups and downs. I can get to where He wants me sooner and with fewer problems if I do what He wants right away; but even when I don’t, He is still going to be working – through my family and friends and even my enemies – to get me to where He wants me to be. What a relief it is to know that God wants what is best for me even more that I want it!

A fellow traveler,
Dave