Dangerous place to be!!! It might be a good idea to be someplace else!!! And if you live in Florida and its hurricane season, that idea crosses your mind quite often. Sometimes you get a warning of danger and other times you don't, so when you see a problem; do something about it!!! Here is the story of a man who didn't heed a warning and paid for it and another who died without warning.
2 Samuel, Chapter 2
17 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David. 18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. 20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, “Is it you, Asahel?”
He answered, “It is I.”
21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?” 23 However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. It happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
He answered, “It is I.”
21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. 22 Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?” 23 However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. It happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
2 Samuel, Chapter 3
26 When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. 27 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother. 28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner. 29 Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.” 30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle. 31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier. 32 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies? 34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.”
Abner had revolted against David and made one of Saul's sons king over the northern ten tribes. During Israel's battle with Judah, Abner is chased by Joab's brother Asahel and warns him to flee. When Asahel continues, Abner kills him with the back end of his spear. Later, after Abner meets with David to sue for peace and Asahel's brother, Joab, finds out about it and tricks Abner into returning so he can kill him. David was appaled at such actions and mourns for Abner.
Sounds like a soap opera, doesn't it? But all danger is not environmental, like the picture of lightning above or the hurricane called Isaac heading towards Florida right now. Human beings can be far more dangerous because of a little trait called deceitfulness. Be careful out there; not everyone you meet will be a follower of Christ!