Then Absalom said, “Now call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Ahithophel has spoken thus. Shall we carry out his plan? If not, you speak.” So Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the advice that Ahithophel has given is not good.” Moreover, Hushai said, “You know your father and his men, that they are mighty men, and they are fierce, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. And your father is an expert in warfare and will not spend the night with the people. Behold, he has now hidden himself in one of the caves or in another place; and it will be when he falls on them at the first attack, that whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 2 Samuel 17:5-9
Two men are giving Absalom battle plans. Ahithopel’s advice was right for Absalom victory, but Hushai’s argument won in the end. Hushai was a friend and spy for David who was trying to protect him by switch-pitching the advice Ahithophel had given to defeat David. How did Hushai convince Absalom to follow him and not Ahithopel’s advice?
Are you wise and shrewd in living out God’s purposes for your life? “And his master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the sons of this age are shrewder in relation to their own kind than the sons of light.” Luke 16:8 You don’t have to bend the rules to serve God, only be shrewd in serving the purposes of God in your life.
REPUTATION: Hushai brought Absalom and those listening to a place of remembrance of who David and his valiant men were in times of war. He did this by painting pictures in their mind of who they were on the battlefield. This memory drew up images, stories, and emotions of past victories they were familiar with. Absalom and his men did not want to meet the ‘The David of War’ who lived in their memories.
AGREEMENT: Hushai tapped into what the men already believed about David and his men and their ability to war which fast tracked them coming into agreement with him. Once Hushai had agreement, he was able to direct the conversation away from counsel that would lead to defeating David. Looking for points of agreement in conversation is what will gain you conversational control when trying to move people in the right direction.
FEAR OF LOSS: People in power want to avoid risk and trouble. Hushai’s closing argument said that people will hear there has been a ‘slaughter’ among Absalom and his men which conjured feeling of fear and intimidation. The currency in this conversation was victory and Hushai closed his argument guaranteeing the opposite ultimately persuading Absalom that the possible loss was not worth the risk by following Ahithopel’s plans.
REFLECT TO CONNECT:
- Hushai was shrewd and successful in his persuasion, in what circumstance do you need to be shrewd?
- Why is ‘positioning’ properly in the moment important to persuading someone in a particular direction?
- What is the difference between shrewd and sneaky persuasion tactics, right vs. wrong?
Principle: Persuading people for mutual benefit vs. selfish benefit is the difference between communication that motivates for mutual benefit vs. manipulates for selfish benefit.
