A Casting Call with Purpose

Wanted: Women with purpose
Needed: Strategy, Faith, Compassion

God has set His casting call for the greatest show on earth; and throughout the ages, many have answered -- men and women alike.

The scenes in 2 Samuel 20 unfold to the general sights and sounds of men running around fighting, a "good for nothing" blowing a ram's horn and mustering soldiers to desert King David, military leaders being late, military leader killing said late leader, and the sounds of a seige ramp being built against the walls of the city of Abel - a city known for it wise, sound decision-making inhabitants, a "mother city" of Israel.

Amidst all the noise and fevered emotions of the soldiers preparing the seige under the command of Joab, himself probably in an angered tizzy, sweating and furious -- amidst all that commotion, a "wise woman" (unnamed other than "wise" or "shrewd" depending on the translation) pops up on the city wall and calls out for Joab.  She pulls him up by his boot straps, so to speak, and asks him why he would "want to mess with God's legacy like that?"

Joab tells her he is just after one man in particular; Wise Woman finds out who and tells Joab, "Sounds good.  His head will be tossed to you from the wall." 

She presents her ideas to the city; they all agree, over the wall goes his head, Joab's army goes home. 

City saved.

A woman with purpose.

Several acts later in the story played out by King David and his cast, another woman steps onto stage to play a part she probably never expected to play:  A Mother Bereft of Her Sons.  Rizpah's two sons she bore to King Saul were taken and handed over to the Gibeonites, who hung them beside five grandsons of Saul.

This woman took up her purpose for this brief season in her life, laid out a burlap blanket near the bodies of her dead sons and shoo-ed away the birds circling during the day and the beasts who tried to snack at night.  She kept watch over her sons' bodies until finally King David heard about her great act of compassion and went himself to collect all seven bodies, as well as exhume the bodies of King Saul and Jonathon in order to give them all a proper burial at the family burial grounds.

Her act of compassion stirred King David to an act of compassion.

A woman with purposeful compassion.

Both of these women could have run from their situations and curled up in fear and anguish of soul.  They could have succumbed to the thought that they couldn't do anything to change the situation -- especially in the face of an invading army of angry men or the face of a decree from the king.

But these women marched forward with purpose, acting in the sphere of influence that God had given them, in the calling that God had placed upon them --- one as a woman giving counsel in her city; another as a mother to children in a family torn and hurting.

The situation we're facing might seem impossible and hopeless.  But God.  He has spoken purpose into each of our lives and is just waiting for us to rise up in faith so that He can work miracles through us.

How will God use US to save our city?  To bring peace to our families?

Women With Purpose.  We accept the casting call.