07/08/2021 - THE POWERFUL MAN OF MAON

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A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. 1 Samuel 25.2

This verse alludes to Nabal, a powerful but not wise man, who lived approximately 13 km south of Hebron, the territory promised to Caleb and later occupied by him, when he was 85 years old. Until then, the Anakim were in that region, they were sons of giants, who didn’t resist the power of the one who was a faithful spy, one of the 12 sent by Moses to report how the land of Canaan was, before Israel possessed it (Deuteronomy. 9:1,2; Josh. 15:13,14). Hebron was promised to Caleb for his faithfulness, and he possessed it.

It is interesting to note that Nabal lived in Maon, a city founded by a grandson of Caleb. Although Nabal was influential, his life was cut short because he didn’t understand the request of a man of God and still offended him (1 Samuel 25:10,11,38). The promise to God’s children is that He will bless those who bless them and curse whoever curses them. (Genesis 12.3). It is a good thing to be friends with the Lord’s servants; otherwise, you could be doing evil. 

Despite “being great” in material wealth, Nabal was small to help a servant of God in his need. Arrogance will lead a person to be classified as impudent before the Lord: I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless (Isaiah 13.11). Strive not to be in these groups, because you will face many problems – if you belong to this universe.

At that time, David was fleeing from Saul, who wanted to kill him because he had been chosen by the Lord to be the shepherd of Israel. Leaders are placed by the Most High as shepherds of those under their leadership, and Jesse´s son was clearly the Almighty’s choice. Therefore, Saul and the rest of the people were to help him prepare himself to be the king of the Israelites. However, the important figure of Maon didn’t want to provide David and his men with supplies, and still insulted him in a cruel way.

In the desert where David was hiding, Nabal’s servants were seeking something for their flock, and David and his men were supporting and protecting them. The future king of Israel was undergoing God’s training, so he acted like an angel and not like a bandit. As a man of prayer, he placed his needs before the Lord, and the answer came!

Hearing that Nabal sheared his sheep in Carmel, David felt that he could be a channel through which the Lord would supply him. As it was custom in Israel, when sheep were sheared, the farmers had a feast to celebrate the profits made. So, help could come from this man of means. Now, the Israelites had already heard what David had done in favor of Nabal´s shepherds (1 Samuel. 25:7).

However, as we will see in the next lessons, the hero who defeated the Philistine giant and brought joy to God’s people wasn’t successful in this endeavor. David had 600 men who went along with him on his journeys, and he had to feed them. Sometimes, God’s servants get frustrated!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares