Hanunian Mistake

Some time after this, King Nahash of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king. David said, "I am going to show loyalty to Hanun just as his father, Nahash, was always loyal to me." So David sent ambassadors to express sympathy to Hanun about his father's death. (2 Samuel 10:1-2a NLT)

Have you ever misunderstood someone's intentions?  Hanun is the new king of Ammon and he's about to make a life-altering mistake.  David, from a neighboring kingdom, wants to express condolences to Hanun because he just lost his father and king.  David was doing a good, kind thing.

But when David's ambassadors arrived in the land of Ammon, the Ammonite commanders said to Hanun, their master, "Do you really think these men are coming here to honor your father? No! David has sent them to spy out the city so they can come in and conquer it!" So Hanun seized David's ambassadors and shaved off half of each man's beard, cut off their robes at the buttocks, and sent them back to David in shame. (2 Samuel 10:2-4 NLT)

Hanun fought a battle in his own mind and lost.  Thoughts kept trying to convince him that David's intentions were bad.  He listened to bad counsel.  He made a horrible mistake.

When David heard what had happened, he sent messengers to tell the men, "Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out, and then come back." For they felt deep shame because of their appearance. When the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, they sent and hired 20,000 Aramean foot soldiers from the lands of Beth-rehob and Zobah, 1,000 from the king of Maacah, and 12,000 from the land of Tob. When David heard about this, he sent Joab and all his warriors to fight them. (2 Samuel 10:5-7 NLT)

War broke out between these two countries because Hanun believed a lie.  In the end, tens of thousands died, relationship between the countries was severed, and Hanun was no longer the king.  He blew it because he didn't fight the right fight in his own mind.

All too often I see families marriages destroyed, families ripped apart, and life-long damage done simply because someone believes a lie.  I've been on both sides of this battle: 1) trying to determine the truth while being lied to, and 2) being attacked because someone believes a lie about me.  Neither situation is good.

Lies are powerful things.  When we believe a lie, we live as though it is true.  In Hanun's case, it brought about massive destruction.

Don't make a Hanunian mistake.  Don't buy lies.  Learn to discern the truth.  Remember that Hanun listened to bad counsel.  Only God provides perfect counsel and never lies.  Turn to Him for Wisdom.  Then, watch Him work in you and through you to to make a difference...for the good.