In a day in which scams are so prevalent, it is imperative that one be wise to the criminal intents of such evil perpetrators. Possessing wisdom becomes one of the greatest treasures in life. Some people equate it with common sense, but wisdom extends beyond the human realm and into the spiritual for its source is God and His Word.

One of the early apostles gave very practical instructions to the Christians of the first century. James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote … “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5 NIV). The Apostle James was stating that the source of wisdom is God and is not the same as “getting smart” from life experiences.

Job, in answering Bildad the Shuhite said … “His wisdom [God’s] is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed” (Job 9:4 NIV)? “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his” (Job 12:13 NIV). Job concluded his thoughts concerning wisdom with these words … “the fear of the Lord — that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding” (Job 28:28 NIV). “Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful than ten rulers in a city” (Eccl 7:19 NIV).

Scripture reveals the wisdom of a lady named Abigail. She knew God’s Word and applied it in a critical situation. Abigail was the wife of a man named Nabal. His name in the Hebrew meant foolish. The Biblical account tells of David seeking to obtain food and supplies from Nabal and being rebuffed … “Nabal answered David’s servants, ‘Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where’ (1 Sam 25:10-11 NIV). Infuriated by that response, David sought revenge and gave orders to his men to join him in attacking Nabal. The wisdom of Abigail, gained from her knowledge of God’s Word, quickly became evident. Knowing that God had chosen David to be king in place of Saul … “Abigail lost no time. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. Then she told her servants, ‘Go on ahead; I’ll follow you’” (1 Sam 25:18-19a NIV).

With wisdom gained from faith in the God of Israel, the pre-incarnate Christ, Abigail tapped into God’s Word which was spiritually embedded in the thinking of David. “Please forgive your servant’s offense, for the LORD will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my master, because he fights the LORD’s battles. Let no wrongdoing be found in you as long as you live. Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life, the life of my master will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the LORD your God. But the lives of your enemies he will hurl away as from the pocket of a sling. When the LORD has done for my master every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him leader over Israel, my master will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself” (1 Sam 25:28-31 NIV).

The Spirit of God caused David to recall to mind the Divine promise that his throne would be established forever. Abigail’s words had great prophetic significance for she said … “And when the LORD has brought my master success, remember your servant” (1 Sam 25:31NIV). After Nabal’s death from illness, David married Abigail. Through that union came Nathan, from whom Mary, the mother of the humanity of Christ, was descended. The God of Israel, Jesus Christ, whom Abigail had trusted, would become flesh and on the Cross provide salvation to all who placed their faith in Him.