“Float like a butterfly,
sting like a bee.
The hands can't hit
what the eyes can't see.”

Heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali had a way with words. He was incredibly articulate and witty, which made him stand out in a sport where most men could barely string three words together. And which is why Ali captured the attention of the sports world, and the world in general, as much with his vocal talent as his boxing skills. But the brutality of the sport caught up with him. Others saw and hit him – hard. He was never knocked out, but the cumulative effect of the punches added up and at the young age of 42 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

When we’re young we think we’re invincible and, unfortunately, when we’re older and know better we persuade the young that they are so they’ll entertain us in violent sports like boxing and football. It’s a good thing we’ve advanced from the brutality of the Roman Coliseum and death matches, right? What Ali believed, just like everyone who climbs into a ring, was that he was in control of the outcome. What he learned, just like most others, was that he was just fooling himself.

When David was reigning as King in Hebron Saul’s son Ishbosheth was reigning in Northern Israel. Their generals met on neutral ground and, thinking he had the upper hand, Abner (Ishbosheth’s commander) suggested a fight between their young men. He thought he knew how it would turn out, but he was wrong (2 Samuel 2:12-14). All the young men died and Abner ended up running for his life (vv15-19).

While running he was pursued by Asahel (David’s nephew through his sister Zeruiah). Abner begged Asahel to stop chasing him. The text records two times Abner asking him to “Turn aside from following me”, but Asahel wouldn’t listen. He too thought he was in control of the outcome, until Abner stopped suddenly and killed him (vv20-23). Joab, David’s commander, who just happened to be Asahel’s brother, and David’s nephew as well, found his brother lying there dead and continued chasing Abner, until Abner gathered enough of his own men to persuade Joab to stop (vv24-28). What no one could have known was how that event would start a war between the houses that would not end until many sons of Israel were dead, including Abner, who was murdered, stabbed in cold blood, by Joab, and Saul’s son Ishbosheth was murdered in his sleep by his own servants.

Now that may all sound like boring ancient history, but there are two great lessons for us. First is the law of unintended consequences. We need to think carefully before we speak and act because we don’t always control the outcome. Second, the path of violence leads to destruction and death. Jesus, the Son of David, came to free us from both. He calls us to choose the path of peace with Him, which leads to the best possible outcome – eternal life. A consequence we can intentionally seek by choosing to obey Him in faith.