Theme:
Winning through wisdom
Business Application:
Wisdom and self-regulation can defeat strong, passionate opponents; Older people can be as effective as their younger counterparts, even if it shows up in different ways.
Who he was:
Hushai was David’s confidant who was instrumental in sabotaging Absalom’s insurrection. When David fled Jerusalem during Absalom’s insurrection and reached the summit of the Mount of Olives, he found Hushai already there waiting for him with a torn robe and dust on his head, which were signs of mourning. He wanted to continue into exile with David, but the king was concerned the man would slow them down. Instead, he urged him to go back to Jerusalem posing as an advisor to Absalom. From there, he could offer the wise counsel he was known for, but secretly be thwarting Absalom’s plans.
Why his story matters:
Hushai may not have had the strength to go into exile or fight in a battle. But the wisdom and statesmanship he offered was a lesson in strategy, befitting a man who had spent years of his life working close to the king.
What we can learn from him:
Fight back with wisdom when you face an energetic opponent who appears to have an advantage. And don’t overlook the wisdom of older generations when staffing your team. They may not show the same energy or savvy with the latest technology. But their hard-earned wisdom, and ability to sense trends and patterns, can be invaluable to an organization’s success.
Where we see his archetype today:
We see reflections of Hushai when organizations are intentional about diversity in age and refuse to stereotype or consider older workers irrelevant. We also see it in businesses that refuse to be beat and use wisdom to overcome the odds.
How we can learn more about him:
Hushai is found in 1 Chronicles 27:33, 2 Samuel 15:31-37 and 2 Samuel 17:1-22. His son became a district governor under Solomon in 1 Kings 4:16.