Bethsheba: When plans go wrong

There are times that our bad actions trigger the ripple effects of other things. My father always says that if you tell one lie, you will probably need a thousand more lies to cover your tracks. This is so true. Whenever you do something wrong and you need to cover your tracks, you tend to do more wrong stuff to make sure that your first action is not seen. The only solution to this ripple effect of sin is to avoid the very first attempt to sin. If you overcome the first desire to do evil, there is no need to cover up your track. The temptation of Adam and Eve, and the temptation of Jesus were all based on similar levels. The devil was interested in the things that would make them desire other things other than God: the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. Eve succumbed to the sin, Adam followed suit and the result was a flawed humanity (Genesis 3). On the other hand, Jesus overcame his temptation and ultimately accomplished God’s purpose of salvation. 

Bethsheba had no intention to cheat on her husband until king David requested for her presence and ended up sleeping with her. The one night with the king began a cycle of sin. Bethsheba was pregnant for David while Uriah was still at war. David was informed about this and his first action was to send for Uriah. David sent word to Joab, the army commander: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent him to David. When Uriah came to him, David asked him how Joab was, how the soldiers were and how the war was going. Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king was sent after him.” (2 Samuel 11:6‭-‬8). David’s plan was for Uriah to go home and sleep with Bethsheba so the baby would be known as Uriah’s baby. Remember, there was no DNA test available then. However, Uriah slept at the entrance to the palace with all his master’s servants and did not go down to his house (2 Samuel 11:9). When David inquired of Uriah, this was Uriah’s response: “The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my commander Joab and my Lord’s men are camped in the open country. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and make love to my wife? As surely as you live, I will not do such a thing!” (2 Samuel 11:11). Such a loyalty was missing in David’s own life. Even when David got Uriah so drunk the next day, Uriah still didn’t go to sleep with his wife. David’s plan failed. 

In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel 11:15)

All this while, Bethsheba was home managing her predicament. She had no idea that the king was looking for ways to cover his sinful action. David initiated plan B. The second plan was barbaric. David sent a letter to Joab through Uriah. The letter was Uriah’s death sentence. The very loyal Uriah did not know that his own hands carried a decision to kill him. In the letter, David wrote this: “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” (2 Samuel 11:14‭-‬15). David succeeded in this plan and Uriah was killed by the enemies he had risked his life and pleasure to fight against. Uriah was actually pushed into his own death by the plan of his own king. What an evil plan! Bethsheba’s one night with the king caused her the life of a very loyal husband. I am sure David did not plan to kill Uriah before he slept with Bethsheba. His one sin, generated a cycle of other sins. 

Imagine Bethsheba waiting at home to know what to tell Uriah about the pregnancy. They had no mobile phones so Bethsheba was not in communication with Uriah. The beautiful wife of Uriah carried the child of a king. The king who didn’t want to be shamed killed the husband of Bethsheba to cover his sinful action. The story is far from over. God hates sin and what David did was obnoxious to Him. 

Before you press that sin button, know that you will need a lifetime of lies to cover that single act. Be sober minded and be ready to weigh your actions with the word of God. The only solution to this ripple effect of sin is to avoid the very first attempt to sin.
God hates sin.