When Eliab, David’s oldest brother heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, “Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle”

1 Samuel 17:28

For Meditation

It is in every family. The only difference is the manner of its manifestation. It is the phenomenon of family intrigues that surprises and sometimes baffles everybody.

David was not the first to fall victim to it (1 Sam.17:28). It started in the Garden of Eden. Remember the blame game between old great, great granddad and grandma, Adam and Eve (Gen, 3:12)? And Brother Cain picking it with junior Abel, who took a fatal hit for it (4:8)?

The sons of Jacob present us with the most amazing one of all. Talk about hatred, conspiracies, and wicked maneuvering; there are enough to overwhelm you. (37:1-36; 42:1-45;1-28). Moses tasted its bitterness with Aaron and Miriam to the extent that God had to intervene (Exod. 12:1-15). Nevertheless, family intrigues continue to this day.

We can safely conjecture that David had learned enough of the history of Israel, at this time of his life, to be guided and comforted when Eliab and, perhaps the others angrily slighted him at every opportunity. So, David handled this one with Eliab so well, and with uncommon maturity, that won him the day (1 Sam. 17:28).

“Now what have I done … Can’t I even speak,” David said to Eliab’s jab (29).  

He just turned away and focused on what the Spirit of God was leading him to do (30). Eventually, David became the king of Israel, and he brought the same family along, even during his wilderness flight from King Saul (22:1-4). Through such squabbles and intrigues within the traditional family, church family, or workplace, the providential hand of God always works to establish His purpose and our good (Rm. 8:28).

You may have been a victim of such sibling hatred and struggles in your family growing up, or maybe even now. Look closely and apprehend the depth of the human fall and the extent of our depravity. That is how we can appreciate the grace of God through Jesus Christ. It is only in Him who suffered it too from His brothers (Jn. 7:3-5) that we can handle such attacks with love and grace. Ultimately, it is all for the Father’s glory.

Can we give it to Him?