Ziklag means “winding road.” Life is like that. You think you have things all straightened out, all your ducks in the proverbial row, with nothing but smooth sailing ahead - until you come to a curve you weren’t counting on, a pothole you didn’t see. That’s the way it will always be this side of Heaven. But one day, when we’re called away, the streets will be straight (Isaiah 40:4) and paved with gold (Revelation 21:21) - no more winding roads, no more potholes.

David finds a curve he wasn’t counting on. He and his boys make it back to Ziklag to reunite with their families only to discover that the Amalekites had invaded the town, burned down their homes, and carried their families away. It was a brutal, devastating, heartbreaking situation.

Amalekite means “dweller in the valley.” Each time the Amalekites are seen in Scripture, they’re an illustration of the flesh, warring against the people of God. That is why God said to Moses, “You shall war against Amalek from generation to generation” (see Exodus 17:16).

Whether it’s due to the fleshly tendencies within us or to external enemies that seek to pull us down, you can count on a fight from Amalek. Right when you think you have things all figured out, another generation of Amalekites will rise up and war against you. Knowing this, aren’t you thankful that He Who is within you is greater than any Amalekite who comes against you? (1 John 4:4).