Week 25: September 18-24
“It may be that the Lord will work for us”
I Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.”
What a great statement by Jonathan the son of King Saul. This gives us a glimpse of his heart and how he trusted in the Lord. How did he get to this moment of great faith? When we look into the story and see how bleak it was, we see how Jonathan’s statement is even more amazing!
At this time King Saul is ruling over the Israelites. In this story the Philistines have brought 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and troops to battle with them. The people of Israel were so afraid that they scattered and started to hide. (13:6) Verse 7 says, “the people followed him (Saul) trembling”. The rampant fear and tension led Saul to wrongly offer sacrifices himself instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel. Saul clearly violated God’s command. This is when God rejects Saul and is the beginning of the end of Saul’s reign as king. After Samuel leaves, Saul is left with 600 fighting men to go against the Philistines! To make matters worse verses 19-23 reveal that there are no blacksmiths in all if Israel. The only people with swords are Jonathan and Saul. What a predicament!
This is the current situation when we open chapter 14. It almost seems like Jonathan is bored and says to his armor bearer lets go get into some trouble. But we see Jonathan’s true motive in verse 6. They come upon a garrison, a military post, of Philistines. Jonathan says let’s go over and see what the Lord will do for us. His armor bearer must have been a little freaked out that two of them would take on 20 or more men. But Jonathan reminds him of something important. He says, “nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” Jonathan has such confidence in the Lord. Jonathan knows that God decides the victor of the battle not the might and size of the army. God will do it with an army or with twop men. Jonathan trusted God that much.
I’ve been thinking of this for my own life. My natural instinct in tough situations is to be fearful and not step out on faith in tough situations. For example, sharing my faith. My mind immediately fills with all the bad things that could happen. But if I had the faith of Jonathan I could say, “lets see what great thing God will do here.” Most often we are paralyzed by fear of failing or being hurt in situations, but big risks reap big rewards. When we ignore our fears and step out to share the gospel, lead a ministry, or even a ask a hard spiritual question to a friend, we must realize God is doing the work and lets see what he will do. He may save. He may bring clarity to a blind soul. He will work through us!
The story ends well for Jonathan. They kill 20 men and ignite chaos in the camp of the Philistines. God causes great confusion among the Philistines, and they start killing each other. Things got so good, Israelites who ran away came back to partake in the fight. God prevailed over the Philistines and used Jonathan and his armor bearer to start it. Instead of looking at all the ways we will fail or get hurt, lets look at situations like Jonathan and see all the ways God will do amazing things. I’ve even started whispering this phrase to myself when I’m fearful or nervous about a spiritual situation.
Pray Together
- Pray that God helps us visualize what God will do and not all the bad things that may happen to us.
- Pray that God will create an opportunity for a Gospel conversation this week.
- Pray that God will develop in you a heart of prayer and dependence on Him.