Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Asahel Would Not
Today's Verse:
And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him. ~2 Samuel 2:21
Abner challenged Joab’s men to a battle. Joab’s men, from the outset, had the advantage and were beating Abner’s men. When Abner saw that his men were being soundly defeated, he himself made a run to escape. Joab’s younger brother, Asahel, ran after him. Asahel was a much faster runner and came very close to catching up with Abner. Looking behind him, Abner told Asahel “to turn back” and leave him alone. Asahel kept pursuing him until Abner had enough of the chase and used the back end of his spear to smite Asahel and kill him. Asahel is a picture of the work of the Holy Spirit in our conscience and heart.
We see the focus of the Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and the One Who comes alongside of us as our Teacher. He is the Spirit of Truth Who gives us understanding of the Word of God. His ministry is to reprove us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. The Spirit reproves us of sin because we believe not on Him; of righteousness because Jesus goes unto His Father; and of judgment because the prince of this world is judged. He convicts us of thoughts and conduct that are sinful and contradictory to what glorifies God. As Asahel was hotly in pursuit of Abner, the Holy Spirit pursues after us to obey His convicting and converting power.
We see the fleeing from the Spirit.
Abner was running from Asahel. He did not want to be brought under Asahel’s power. He did not want to admit that he was wrong in being the enemy of David. He had no intention of surrendering. Running from God is never a good idea. God eventually catches up with us. Running from God can lead us into a place in our life that is undesirable and uncomfortable. Jonah tried to run from God, but it led him to a storm and eventually into the belly of a whale. Peter tried to run from God, but it only led to a failed business attempt and an embarrassing meeting with the Lord. Our rebellious nature runs from the Spirit when we refuse to obey His voice. Are you running from the Lord? Are you running from His voice to be saved? Are you running from His voice to surrender and serve Him full-time?
We see the forbidding of the Spirit.
Abner could feel Asahel getting closer. Instead of surrendering, he chose to use the spear in his hand to smite Asahel under the fifth rib and kill him. In effect, he pictures the Christian who quenches or kills the Spirit’s pursuit of him. The quenching of the Spirit puts out His fire in our heart. It is telling him that His will conflicts with our will and we are not giving in. We quench the Spirit when we have an absent prayer life. We quench the Spirit when we despise prophesying’s or the preaching of God’s Word. The Spirit is quenched when we are unthankful and live with a critical spirit. We are commanded to “quench not the Spirit.” The quenching of the Spirit delays God’s working. The quenching of the Spirit hinders God’s will from being done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Are you running from the Holy Spirit? Are you quenching His voice and power from working in you? Instead of running from Him, it is time that you run to Him and allow the joy of the Lord to be your strength.
Have a surrendered God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Job 24-28
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