Casualty of Plunder

Is it called “Duct Tape” or “Duck Tape”? Actually, either moniker is correct. Duck Tape was its original name and was invented in 1942 during World War 11. It was waterproof and invented by the Johnson & Johnson Company for the military to keep their ammunition boxes dry and from being easily plundered. It is strong, sturdy, and durable and has repaired NASA spacecrafts to B52 bombers to home air ducts to anything it will stick to. When applied—it’s a very sticky situation. In the early 1950’s a bank robber was reported to have wrapped himself up so tight in duck tape before robbing a bank that it took 2 years to remove it from his head. Ouch! A sticky situation, harrowing circumstances.

 

The Bible recounts stories of brave survivors after harrowing circumstances. One such story is almost unbelievable and would make Hollywood countless millions if it were to ever make the big screen. But here you can enjoy it in its purest form and see antagonist and protagonist up close and personal.

Our story begins in 1 Samuel 30. David the future king of Israel and his men were returning to the city of Ziklag where their wives, children and provisions were. Before David arrived there, the Amalekites had taken all the women and children captive and burned the city. All the men wept at the loss and later thought of stoning David. When David consulted with the priest, God told him to pursue the enemy and recover everything that was taken. When they began their pursuit, they came across an Egyptian near death in a field, and they brought him to David. He was ill and hadn’t eaten or drank anything for three days. After reviving the man with food and water, they found out he was an Egyptian slave to one of the Amalekites; and part of the raiding party that took their wives and children!

 

After barely surviving death, he agreed to help David and his men find the raiding party if they wouldn’t kill him or hand him over to the Amalekites. A deal was struck. David and his men found the raiding party and fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day! The Bible tells us, “Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had been taken. David brought everything back.”

 

David used what he had plundered as presents for his friends in Judah. David reestablished contact with the citizens of Judah who would later be the ones to name him king. That Egyptian was one lucky duck! His master, an uncompromising barbarian left him for dead when he fell ill, and the poor man suffered for three days and nights. David and his men found him, gave him food and water, and the day was won. Coincidence or blind luck? Was God in the details? F Y I – God dwells in the details!