Ahimaaz son of Zadok again said to Joab, “Come what may, please let me run behind the Cushite.” But Joab replied, “My son, why do you want to go? You don’t have any news that will bring you a reward.” He said, “Come what may, I want to run.” So Joab said, “Run!” Then Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain and outran the Cushite. –2 Samuel 18:22 & 23, NIV 2010
Ahimaaz was the USPS of Davidic times. He was the royal messenger, sending news of Absalom’s revolt. His job was deeply respected with the king, winning favor and grace. However, there were some bad news: Absalom, David’s son, died.
And another thing: he had to run against a Cushite-that means, an Ethiopian. That’s like Michael Phelps running against Usain Bolt (he’s Jamaican, I’m making a point) in athletics! How can he beat someone at their own game, knowing that he had bigger shoes to fill?
When David saw him, they thought Ahimaaz would bring good news or something, as they saw him alone. But they saw the Cushite run behind him. When he learned that Absalom, his own son, died, what became a day of celebration became a national day of mourning. This will be for another day.
Beyond that, Ahimaaz still remained headstrong to his job, running at all costs. “I want to run”, he said. He didn’t care what people said, he didn’t care what Usain Bolt ran against him, he wanted to run to say what he had to say.
And we’ll run to say what God has to say to someone, too, ‘cause this is NOT what I had in mind to write about today…