Hushai’s Counsel
17 Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Please let me choose twelve thousand men and let me set out and pursue David tonight. 2 And I will [a]attack him while he is weary and [b]exhausted and startle him, so that all the people who are with him will flee. Then I will strike and kill the king when he is alone, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you. [c]The return of everyone depends on the man whom you are seeking; then all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the [d]plan pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.
5 Nevertheless, Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let’s hear what [e]he has to say.” 6 When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to [f]him, “Ahithophel has [g]proposed this plan. Should we [h]carry out his plan? If not, say so yourself.” 7 So Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the advice that Ahithophel has [i]given is not good.” 8 Then Hushai said, “You yourself know your father and his men, that they are warriors and they are [j]fierce, like a bear deprived of her cubs in the field. And your father is an [k]expert in warfare, and he will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the ravines, or in another place; and it will be that when he falls on them at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom!’ 10 And even the one who is valiant, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will completely despair; for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But I advise that all Israel be fully gathered to you, from Dan even to Beersheba, like the sand that is by the sea in abundance; and that [l]you personally go into battle. 12 Then we will come to him in one of the places where he can be found, and we will [m]fall on him just as the dew falls on the ground; and of him and of all the men who are with him, not even one will be left. 13 And if he withdraws into a city, then all Israel shall bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it into the [n]valley until not even a pebble is found there.” 14 Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to foil the good advice of Ahithophel, in order for the Lord to bring disaster on Absalom.
Now Ahithophel finally has some good advice. It certainly wasn’t what God wanted, but it would have set Absalom securely on the throne. Alas, Absalom wasn’t just fighting against his father, he was fighting against the will of God, and that’s a battle no one can win.
While we do have free will, God can see things from a much larger perspective, and no matter what we might do, God can use it in His plan. Ultimately, whether we obey or rebel, we will find that all along we were only helping to fulfill His plan.
Thus it would be better for us to willingly serve God’s purpose and put our life to good purpose in following God and choose His plan for our lives. It will be infinitely better than anything we might choose for ourselves.