6 Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. (They went out in Faith!) NOTHING CAN HINDER THE LORD FROM SAVING, WHETHER BY MANY OR BY FEW.” 1 Samuel 14:6
Israel were facing yet another battle with the Philistines and as often they were hopelessly outmatched, they didn’t even have weapons. Only Saul and Jonathan were armed and Jonathan decided to go up and confront the enemy with only his young armour-bearer in support. Jonathan believed that God could give them the victory, ‘Whether by many or BY FEW’. (In this case just two) and he Declared it.
8 Jonathan said, “Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait there until we come to you,’ we will stay where we are and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.”
Jonathan, friend of David, was committed to fight the enemy, but he sought the Lord’s guidance before he stepped out. The Lord can lead as we go forward in Faith and sometimes we have to step out in trust before we know His leading.
11 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. “Look!” said the Philistines. “The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.” 12 The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.”
Jonathan immediately took the taunt of the enemy as a confirmation from God that He had given the Philistines into their hands. Once they STOOD before the enemy, (We have to STAND OUR GROUND IN THESE DAYS) God opened the way for them to engage the battle.
13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armour-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armour-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armour-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre. 1 Samuel 14
Jonathan trusted the Lord for victory over a greater enemy and stepped out to find the way of God’s deliverance for Israel. Once Jonathan won his skirmish the Lord struck the entire enemy camp with panic and Israel routed them. By standing in the face of greater odds Jonathan opened the way for a greater victory.
Sometimes the only way for God to show you His power is to let you encounter a situation that only He can bring you through. Lance Wallnau, read this morning.
God bless and keep you today