THAT moment was one of hesitation for the associate priest. And in that moment that Abiathar thought to stop things, he took a long gaze at Adonijah.
He saw the young man confidently seated, with all the poise and composure. Then he queried his own stand a bit.
Can he really be wrong? Can Adonijah be wrong with all this confident air all about him?
Yes, he’s got the words. Well, with scriptures to back them also. Or hasn’t he got things to challenge what we know?
But can he simply be wrong? Or not know where he’s going?
Now Abiathar began to doubt his own stand on the matter. Then his interest grew further in what the young prince had to say. And so, he sat back and just listened.
Adonijah kept shooting words nonetheless. ‘Why do you think God created the woman out of the man?
‘It is only because the man wouldn’t naturally have believed in God. And so God created the woman out of him, so he would see Creation happen again, and then believe!’
A slight grunt of thoughtfulness escaped his listener’s throat.
The prince nudged the elder a bit. ‘You know, the Almighty is so far from our reach, like I said.
‘So He has created some men in our world to carry out His plan, even when those great men don’t know they are living out His purpose.’
At this point, Abiathar couldn’t take the deviations much longer.
He blurted out. ‘What are you saying? What sort of aberration are you spewing out, young man? This is all heresy – don’t you know? Or where does the Scripture ever say that?’
The prince was rather calm with his answer. ‘I will explain sir,’ he smiled.
The old priest only looked at him and smirked beneath his breath. ‘As if there’s anything to explain!’
But he said nothing to the bold speaker about this. So Adonijah took back the speaking floor.
‘May I ask you this, sir. How do you know that the sacrifices you offer in this place are the gracious will of God? How do you know that?’
The elder could not help the silence. He just sat and watched.
‘Let me tell you,’ smiled the younger man. ‘This is simply because you trust Zadok your leader.
‘You probably assume that if the priest is this bold and decisive with it, then he must be right about it. It must be that it is God’s plan for Israel.
‘Now, do you know that, to lead you together with all of Israel through the right path this time, mighty men like Joab has been raised to join me on my campaign?
‘People like him are bold and strong – and they know what they are after. So, tell me: has anyone ever followed Joab and lose?
‘Then, just like no one has ever followed King David and failed, now no one who teams up with I and Joab will know the shame of defeat.
‘Because people like us know what we are doing. And God has placed us there to lead people like you and all Israel in the right way!’
The listening old man breathed a sigh. Then, as he was about to pick up with a certain query, Adonijah swept in with stronger words.
‘Now join hands with me, old one. Like Joab has done to make you see.
‘Oh trust the things you can see, sir! You cannot see God because He is far up above. But you can see me, you can see Joab.
‘Then, trust us and believe us! And follow me on this cause. Because I, Adonijah, shall reign!’
At that point Abiathar was won over completely. He believed the words of the confident young man, as they proved stronger than the assurances of his call.
For the old man had always only trusted what he saw. And didn’t know his call nor did he know his God…
Like a man should always know his own name and his father’s.
But Abiathar only always trusted what he saw. Without learning that the sight of the eye is only deceitful.
He only followed those men he saw.
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