At Loose Ends

The response of “Let Go and Let God” can happen when we come to the point where we are at “loose ends” and don’t know what to do next or what will happen in our lives. One definition is that when we are at loose ends, we are restless or unsettled. That was certainly true for a couple of Bible heroes: Joseph, son of Jacob and Abigail, wife of David.

Joseph’s story is found in Genesis. He was the son of Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife. His father’s favoritism led to jealousy among his 10 half-brothers. They threw him into an empty cistern and then sold him into slavery. (Genesis 37:18-28). That wasn’t the end of Joseph’s troubles. False accusations put him in prison, where he certainly was at loose ends. He was sure that he’d never get out of prison and never see his family again. (Genesis 39:29f)

Abigail, on the other hand, was married to a rich man who was selfish. She was secure and privileged. Then David, an outlaw from the court of Saul, sent a messenger to Nabal asking for supplies because he had protected Nabal’s flocks in the wilderness. When Nabal refused, she found herself unsettled and realized she had to take action to protect the family. (I Samuel 25:14-31) When she told her husband what she had done, “his heart died within him, and he became as a stone…and he died” (I Samuel 25:37-38). This left her completely at loose ends without protection of a husband.

Even though both these Bible heroes thought that their life was unsettled permanently. God, knew there was a lot more to the story. Joseph was destined to be the governor of Egypt to save his family (and the nation of Egypt) from the effects of a famine. David sent for Abigail and she became his wife and support during his time of exile and kingship.

There is a positive side to being “at loose ends”, though. It is the opportunity that is hidden in being unsettled. Maria in The Sound of Music says, "When the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window.” That is true for us today and it was true for men and women in the Bible. We can get so focused on looking at the closed door that we forget to look around for the open window. 

At least I know that’s true for me. Only when I let go of my plan of using the obvious ‘door’ can I see the wide open window. I love this picture I found online because it shows that the door is the narrowest way to get to the other side. In reality, in God’s will, the wall is entirely open! There have been times when I’ve felt at ‘loose ends’-unsettled and uncertain about what the next step was. There have been times when I’ve felt that there couldn’t possibly be another step because the road is a dead end. Usually those are times when the Lord has a new direction for my walk, but I have to “Let Go” before God can work. When I quit pounding the closed door and look around, I can see the opportunity for a new direction.

Joseph and Abigail discovered opportunity in the ‘loose ends’ of their lives. Joseph, in Egypt, realized that his life as the favored son of a sheik in Canaan was over. Then he was able to be open to God’s plan. Only then could God place him in a position of power and restore his family. In my novel, It is I, Joseph he is torn between reconciliation with his brothers or revenge and decides on reconciliation (after he puts them to a little test-see Genesis 44:1-45:8). Joseph has come to understand that “it was not you who sent me here, but God.” 

Abigail was at ‘loose ends’ after Nabal died. She was unable to imagine what would happen to her as a widow. Then, “David sent and wooed Abigail, to make her his wife…and [she] became his wife.” God had a new opportunity as the support and love of David’s life. In My Abigail she gives him wise counsel during his time of exile, and this is because she learned to be strong and wise as the wife of the ‘foolish’ Nabal.

When my life is at ‘loose ends’, it is never a comfortable experience. Looking at Bible heroes helps me understand that very often that is the way God works and where the open window of opportunity can be found. If you feel like your life is ‘at loose ends’, look around for that window and see what opportunities God has in store for you.

There is an even worse feeling than being at loose ends. That is ‘being at the end of your rope’. We’ll look at a couple of Bible heroes that found themselves in that position, next time.

Ordinary Time Excursion-Abigail

I recently read an interesting phrase: “God cannot do anything through us, until he is doing something in us.” This is true and I think God is always working in us, if we give the slightest encouragement. Like the sun bursting from behind these clouds, the Holy Spirit can break in and do great things, even before we are aware of it. Abigail and her husband Nabal offer an interesting contrast in how that can be true.

Abigail’s story is found in I Samuel, chapter 25. She is the young wife of a wealthy man (Nabal). “He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel.” (I Samuel 25:2). David at the time was a fugitive from the court of King Saul and living in the wilderness of Paran, near Carmel. He “sent 10 young men…‘go to Nabal, and greet him in my name…[tell him] your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing…therefore…pray, give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.” (I Samuel 25:5-8)

Nabal, despite his wealth, is not generous and responds rudely, “Who is David? Who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays breaking away from their masters.” When David hears this, he is angry and prepares to attack Nabal. (I Samuel 25:10-13) Nabal’s response is not unexpected, perhaps, since David is an outlaw, and the story might end there with David destroying Nabal and all he owns.

Enter Abigail. “One of the young men told Abigail…‘behold, David sent messengers…and he railed at them. Yet the men were very good to us and we suffered no harm…consider what you should do; for evil is determined against our master…and he is so ill natured that one cannot speak to him.” Abigail knows she must save her husband and family by doing something rather bold.

“Abigail made haste, and took 200 loaves, and 2 skins of wine, and 5 sheep ready dressed, and 5 measures of parched grain, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs, and laid them on asses…But she did not tell her husband Nabal.” (I Samuel 25: 18-19) Abigail believes she can forestall the attack by a generous gift which she takes herself to David. “When Abigail saw David…she fell before David on her face, and bowed to the ground… ‘Let not my lord regard this ill-natured fellow, Nabal; for as his name is, so is he…folly is with him…now let this present which your servant has brought to my lord be given to the young men who follow my lord.’” (I Samuel 25:23-31)

David accepts the gift, saying, “For as surely as the Lord the God of Israel lives…unless you had made haste and come to meet me, truly by morning there had not been left to Nabal so much as one male.” (I Samuel 25:34)

Abigail’s actions, while contrary to accepted propriety, were based in a heart that trusted in God. The Spirit had been at work in her so that she was generous and brave enough to act. Her strength was based in the Lord. Nabal’s actions, on the other hand, came from a heart where God was not allowed to work. He concentrated on himself and had no room for God’s love or for an exile from the court, no matter how much David assisted Nabal’s shepherds.

When Nabal learns what Abigail did, “his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And about 10 days later the Lord smote Nabal; and he died.” (I Samuel 25:38) Later “David sent and wooed Abigail, to make her his wife.” (I Samuel 25:40)

Abigail is with David during his exile and wilderness wanderings. She is taken captive by the Amalekites “David’s two wives also had been taken captive. Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail the widow of Nabal…David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” (I Samuel 30:5-6)

I told Abigail’s reaction to the captivity in My Abigail*.

“I forgot,” in the darkness of my self-imposed covert I gasped in repentance. “When I was a child I knew that I AM was in everything. Then I lost sight of the greatness of the Living Lord. God is the One who created me and the One who gives me all I need.”


With the realization came a lightening of my heart. I breathed a petition, half praise and half awe as I lifted my head. “We are not forgotten. The Almighty knows where we are even if David does not. Even though we are surrounded by enemies we are protected. God you raised David to lead men guide him here to save us.”


I wiped my eyes with my sleeve. It was strange that amid the danger and fear I found faith again. Almost reverently I gathered a fistful of sand from beneath my feet.


“Though as many as the stars of heaven and this very sand, the God of Abraham will never forsake the chosen ones. Living and Holy Lord of the Children of Israel please rescue and bring us back to the land you prepared for those who follow your laws. Almighty One, you were with Joseph in exile and prison, be with us now. Give me courage to do what I must do to preserve the safety of these women.”

Like the Psalmist, Abigail realizes that God is with her, no matter what the circumstances are. Psalm 37 says, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are ever giving liberally and lending, and their children become a blessing. Depart from evil, and do good; so you shall abide for ever. For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his faithful ones. The righteous shall inherit the land, and live in it for ever.” (Psalm 37:25-29)

As long as we do not close the door on God, God will work. Only when, like Nabal, we close our hearts, is God unable to work. It is all our own choice. What can you do to let the doors of your heart be open so that God can work in you and through you?

Next week, we will meet Hannah. Her prayer was answered in an amazing way.

*My Abigail, ISBN:978-1-58288-269-7, available online through Amazon.com and my website (CynthiaDavisAuthor.com).

Hunger or Emptiness

For many of us, Lenten discipline is linked to giving up some food in order to cleanse our bodies as well as our souls. Diet is certainly one place we can look to make changes. Too often, and I speak for myself, we are more eager to fill a craving than eat something nutritious. So, it can be good to give up chocolate, or meat, or cola, or some other food that perhaps isn’t healthy for us.

There is another side to that discipline, however, that we often don’t think about or don’t want to consider. Are we filling physical hunger or trying to fill a soul’s emptiness? Is food a substitute for a real relationship with someone or even with God? What am I really craving—chocolate or relationship? As we begin to look at simplifying our lives to become more authentic and complete sons and daughters of God, it's important to look at some of these 'issues', too. Of course, food isn't a problem for everyone, but each of us, if we are honest, has something that we use to fill the emptiness of soul that comes sometimes.

The story of Naomi is that of a woman whose life is consumed with regrets until she finally comes to realize that relationship with others and with God is what she really needs. We don’t know a lot about Naomi, except for snippets in the Book of Ruth. Her plaintive cry is one that many of us could echo when we feel that life and/or God is treating us badly. “Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi, when the Lord has afflicted me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me.” (Ruth 2:20-21)

In my book, Naomi’s Joy, she spent her life trying to fill an empty soul by attempting to control her sons and live up to what she believed were God's expectations of her. She only learned real peace when she faced God who, she discoved, loved her more than she could imagine. After she and Ruth return to Bethlehem, she is forced to admit her need, first to God and then to the women of the town.

After the young woman left in the morning, I faced south. Somewhere in the far distance lay the holy mountain. I could picture the cloud covered summit in my mind.


“God of Israel, is this your answer?” I held out my empty hands. “I do not have any offering to bring. Do not allow Ruth to be shamed. I pray you, raise up a protector for her. Do not hold my sins against this innocent girl.”


I felt better after my prayer. For the first time since Adah died, I did not feel entirely weighed down by a sense of condemnation. My heart and step were both lighter when I walked to the well. Several women greeted me with smiles and questions.


“What is it like in Moab?”
“I am sorry for your loss.”
“Naomi, how does it feel to be home?”
“I…it…it is good to be back,” with a little surprise I realized that it was true.
“I heard that your daughter-in-law goes to the fields to glean for you.”
“Ruth is a great help,” I nodded.
“You are fortunate to have her.”


“Yes,” readily I agreed. “She has been fortunate in her gleaning. I need to thresh the grain she has gathered.”


I lifted my water jar and hurried away before any further questions were raised. I wished that my old friend Rachel was alive. It would have been comforting to talk to her.


“She died last winter soon after the Feast of Atonement,” Rahab told me when she returned the day after we arrived.


“Oh!” My cry of dismay was sharp.


“Rachel often spoke of you,” the widow told me. “Her sons have cared for the fields of Elimelech along with Boaz and the son of Samson. The heritage of your husband has been preserved.”


“It will do me little good,” the words were out before I thought of my audience.


“The Law of Moses declares that a widow is to be cared for by the nearest kinsman. Someone will step forward as ga-al,” a soft hand covered mine in an attempt at comfort.


“That is why I returned,” I had to swallow my pride to admit the truth.


“The Living Lord will provide for you,” Rahab sounded positive.


“I hope so,” my response was lost in the folds of my veil when I bent my head.


Some of my loneliness and grief eased while I threshed the bounty of grain and ground enough for a loaf of bread as a treat for Ruth.


“Um, that smells wonderful,” the young woman sniffed happily when she entered the house.


“I thought you would like it,” I smiled to see my friend savoring the bread.


It was worth the bangle from my wrist to see her delight as she spread the fresh slices with the goat cheese and olives I purchased with it.


“This is the end of the early barley harvest. Suzanne says that the second harvest will begin after a couple of Sabbaths,” Ruth stated the next afternoon. She arrived earlier than I expected. “Tomorrow I will take what we have to be ground if you want.”*

Even though she has admitted her need and begins to reach out in love, Naomi does not fully comprehend the depth of God’s love for her until her grandson is born. Then she can testify to her family about what she learned.

“God is gracious,” the old woman affirmed exultantly when she finished her recital. “Now I hold the promise for the future in my arms. The Almighty has restored my life and renewed my faith. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob has blessed me beyond anything I expected. I was wrong to think that the Holy One turned away when we were in Moab. Even when my husband died and my sons were killed, I was never alone. The Living Lord showed me love in the loyalty of Ruth and in the circumstances that brought me home to Bethlehem.”


“My mother,” Ruth laid her soft hand over the wrinkled one of her mother-in-law. “I promised that wherever you are, I will be. Your God is my God.”*

Naomi learned that her emptiness was a spiritual hunger of her soul for relationship with the Holy God she believed abandoned her. Like Job, God returns to her more than she lost. “Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without next of kin….He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age; for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has born him.” (Ruth 4:14-15)

If you gave up some food for Lent, consider looking deeper into the motivation for desiring that food. How does denying yourself, say chocolate, bring you into a closer relationship with God? Sweets are my downfall, I admit, partly because they are comforting when I feel down and far from God or humans. Having a cookie helps me to feel better about myself in some subconscious way. I wonder…would saying a prayer of thanksgiving have the same effect? Worth thinking about isn’t it?

A friend recently gave me a card with an inscription by Ann Ruth Schabader “Each day comes bearing its gifts. Untie the ribbons.” How would our lives change if we welcomed all that God sends with enthusiastic joy like the child (my grandson) in the picture? I wonder if we would need the substitutes delights of our addictions...It certainly would make us more joyful.

See you next week when we meet Abigail, another little known woman in the Bible with a story to tell.


*All quotations are from Naomi’s Joy by Cynthia Davis. Available online from Amazon.com and the author.