God makes many choices for us, including our parents. We have no say in who raises us. But God has His reasons, and “His ways are past finding out” Isaiah 55:9.
The Ammonite king Nahash treated King David well. When Nahash died, David sent his officials to show kindness to the new king, Hanun, son of Nahash.
“So David sent emissaries to console Hanun concerning his father. However, when they arrived in the land of Ammonites, the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun their lord, ‘Just because David has sent men with condolences for you, do you really believe he’s showing respect for your father? Instead, hasn’t David sent his emissaries to scout out the city, spy on it, and demolish it?’
What should Hanun do? Listen to his advisers, or ask himself what his father would do? He chose to ignore his father’s example.
“So Hanun took David’s emissaries, shaved off half their beards, cut their clothes in half at the hips, and sent them away. When this was reported to David, he sent someone to meet them, since they were deeply humiliated.” 2 Samuel 10:2-5.
No king can tolerate such a public slap in the face. Hanun challenged Israel to a fight and God used the battle that followed to defeat and subjugate both the Ammonites and the Arameans.
The lesson is: listen to your parents. Nahash was not perfect, but he was a skillful diplomat that used kindness to maintain peace with Israel. His son chose the opposite and it cost the lives of thousands of men.
Are your parents wrong about everything? Too strict? Mean, critical, and hard on you? Do they use old-fashioned ideas to keep you from having fun?
God chose your parents for you. Sometimes God will speak to you DIRECTLY through them. If you love God—if you trust Him—trust that He carefully selected these parents for you. He knows what He is doing! Stop fighting and rebelling against the people who love you the most. Let God use them to bless you.
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