Any failure could have a redemptive value if properly annexed. David offers an insight on how one could benefit from past mistakes. When he lost his base at Ziklag, he had a 600-man army. The reason for the loss was that he took all of them to battle at once, thereby making the women and children vulnerable. Undeterred by the loss, he sought the face of the Lord for the next course of action. By following divine instruction he recovered all. On this second occasion, he only went with four hundred men; the remaining two hundred were in charge of their stuff. He had learned the lesson of not exposing one’s rear. The lesson came at a cost, but because it was well internalized he got everything back. What you missed or lost is not as important as the lesson you learned from it.
The situation tested David’s leadership skill on another note. After the recovery of all they had lost, those who went to battle protested sharing the spoil with those who waited behind. David knew better; he chose to share equally with everybody. In life, there are those whose roles may never make the headline. Their line of duty is to “stay with the stuff”. However, they are an essential part of the team. If those men had not stayed back, the first error could have been repeated. Whether you are in forefront or in some lowly rated backside watching over the stuff, all that counts is faithfulness. If you are faithful even in the mundane aspect of your assignment, God will reward you as much as those in the forefront.
