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2 Samuel 2:18-19 "And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle; and Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner."

 

Asahel and his brothers were pursuing Abner after David's men had defeated Saul's troops in battle. (2 Samuel 2:17) Asahel was swift, single-minded, and undistracted, so he was closest in pursuit. Knowing Asahel was close behind him, Abner told the young man to turn aside, either to the right or the left, and seize one of the younger men instead, but "he refused to turn aside; therefore Abner smote him in the belly ... and he fell there, and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still." (2 Samuel 2:21-23)

 

There are some conflicting messages here for me. During the craziness of COVID and the 2020 election, I often said to myself and to others that the devil doesn't care if he pulls us to the right or the left, as long as he pulls us away from God. The use of those same words here made me think about that again. It is so easy to get distracted by the evils and worries of the world and react badly, or to be goaded into bad behavior by the bad behavior of others. When we respond in kind, rather than turning the other cheek, the devil wins a round. There are always things vying to pull us to the left or the right, and pursuing them is usually much easier than keeping our eyes on the good, but we have to keep our focus as Asahel did here.

 

That being said, though, Asahel also made a mistake. He did not stay with his brothers, he jumped ahead to pursue Abner on his own, and lost his life for his efforts. Asahel made his mission a distraction, if that makes sense. It does to me because I can do this myself. There are things that God has put in my path that I am certain He is asking me to take on. But I can, like Asahel, recognize those things and run ahead, single-mindedly pursuing them without consulting or waiting for the others that God intends to assist on that task. Doing so pulls me away from the protection and wisdom of allies and leaves me alone with the enemy, where I am particularly vulnerable.

 

It is necessary that we not allow ourselves to be pulled into the distractions to our right or our left as we pursue our mission. Asahel shows us how to do this, but he also shows us not to act too hastily, and perhaps in pride at our "swiftness of foot". There are others God is calling to the same mission. We will help, support, and protect each other, as long as none of us jumps out ahead leaving the others behind.