The Explanation

Joab and his soldiers stood outside the city of Abel. They had built a big mound of earth against the wall. They were banging on the wall, trying to break it down. Boom. Boom. Inside the city, the people were shaking with fear.

But then something happened. A woman climbed up on the wall. She was wise, and she was brave. She shouted loud, so everyone could hear her over the noise of the battle. "Hear, hear!" she called out. "Please say to Joab, come near here, that I may speak with you."

Just imagine that. A whole army with swords and spears, ready to smash the wall down. And one woman shouts: wait, let's talk first.

What Does This Mean?

Joab could have kept smashing the wall. He had the bigger army. He had the power. But instead, he stopped and listened to her. This wise woman knew something important: talking can stop a war that fighting cannot.

She was not scared to speak up, even to a strong army commander. She used her voice for something good. She wanted to save her city and its people. And it worked. Because she spoke, Joab told her the real reason for the attack. A troublemaker named Sheba was hiding inside. Joab did not want to destroy the whole city, only find that one man.

Without her brave words, many people might have died for nothing. Her wisdom became a shield for the whole city.

The Common Thread

Long before this woman climbed the wall, God had already shown that he listens to people who cry out to him. Through the whole Bible, God hears voices calling to him, even quiet ones, even scared ones.

And later, God sends someone even greater than a wise woman on a wall. Jesus also stood between anger and peace. People wanted to fight, wanted to destroy, wanted revenge. But Jesus spoke words of peace. He did not use a sword to save people. He gave his own life instead, so that people far away from God could come near, just like the woman said to Joab: "Come near here, that I may speak with you." Jesus makes peace between angry people and God himself.

For You

Sometimes at school, or at home, things get loud and angry too fast. Someone pushes, someone yells, before anyone even asks: wait, what happened here?

You can be like that wise woman. When your friends want to fight, you can be the one who says, wait, let's talk about this first. You do not need to be the biggest or the strongest to stop a bad thing from happening. You just need to be brave enough to speak up for what is right.

Next time you feel angry, try this. Before you shout or hit, stop. Take a breath. Say what is really wrong, with words instead of fists. That is wisdom too, just like the woman on the wall.

Talk About It

Why do you think the woman was not too scared to shout to Joab's whole army?

Can you think of a time you could use words instead of anger to stop a fight?

Praying Together

Dear God, thank you for the wise woman who used her words to save her city. Help me to be brave like her, to speak up for peace instead of fighting. Thank you that Jesus made peace between us and you. Help me to listen before I get angry, and to use my words for good. Amen.