An ‘Abigail approach’ for Israel and Palestine

On September 23, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas went before the United Nations to request full UN membership for Palestine (“Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas makes UN statehood bid,” BBC News, 9/23/2011). The move will likely be vetoed in the UN security council, but the bid attracts world attention to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—and to still-stalled peace talks between the two nations.

In the peace process, both Palestine and Israel have expectations and demands that can seem intractable: For example, certain land is considered sacred by both groups. However, the Bible reminds us that people have found spiritually based solutions to similar, seemingly unsolvable challenges before.

One good example is found in First Samuel. Chapter 25 tells of how David and a man named
Nabal (whose name, loosely translated, means “fool”) were at odds. David had acted generously by protecting Nabal’s servants from attack, and asked during the harvest season for his generosity in return. Nabal, however, did not want to share the bounty that he felt was rightfully his. In response, David took up arms and went after Nabal to take what he felt was owed him.

It is easy to understand how both Palestinians and Israelis could imagine themselves in a similar position. In many cases, people have outstretched their arms toward peace but have been injured or slighted, and they may feel there is little choice but to take action. However, as the story unfolds, we find there is another solution. Well-meaning individuals on both sides can find solace in the role of Abigail.

Abigail, Nabal’s wife, a woman of “good understanding,” took responsibility for her husband’s unkindness by taking a large gift of goods to David, asking forgiveness, and then reminding David of his righteousness and future leadership. Her humility and love of others broke the building tension, releasing David from his desire for vengeance.

That same spiritual message that Abigail and David responded to—the Christ that comes clothed in humility—can reach those on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It calls for people to lay down their own self-interest and helps to elevate the concept of territory from a glorified place, to a glorified consciousness. This spiritual consciousness is a “territory” that can be truly shared. Its legitimacy can’t be challenged.

The Christ that comes clothed in humility can reach those on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

One of the challenges that often deters progress in the region is the fear that one side of the dispute will take advantage of the other. This would make groups hesitant to take steps toward peace that could make them vulnerable. Again, we can look to Abigail’s example: While the steps she took were certainly risky, Abigail must have trusted that by following divine direction she would be cared for. (And she was. In fact, later, after her husband passed on, David took her as his wife.) We also find this trust expressed elsewhere in the Bible in a psalm attributed to David: “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Ps. 37:3 ).

The Christ is as active now as in David’s time, and individuals can listen and find the guidance that will lead them to take wise steps toward peace.

We may never find ourselves living in the Middle East or in a position to take Abigail’s stance of asking for forgiveness in a direct way. However, each of us can contribute to a peaceful resolution by loosening our own outlooks of how the situation needs to be resolved. This humility allows us to better support the legitimacy of all individuals involved as children of God.

We can support the idea that a consciousness of progressive peace can bring healing to a stalled reconciliation process. New solutions will be recognized: new ways of working together and still meeting everyone’s needs, new appreciation of each culture, and growing recognition of the oneness of God’s creation. The world needs more Abigails, and each of us can play a part.