Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Perhaps the LORD will help us, for nothing can hinder the LORD. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
1 Samuel 14:6 (NLT)
Israel was at war against the Philistines. It wasn’t going well. The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and as many warriors as the eye could see. Israel, on the other hand, had merely 3,000 warriors.
Saul’s army was greatly outnumbered. Fearful his men would scatter, Saul took matters into his own hands and sacrificed the burnt offering himself rather than wait for Samuel. Verse 15 tells us, “When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!” Not good.
I love Jonathan’s character. He’s the kind of person who sees a need and volunteers for the job. From a tactical standpoint, Jonathan’s move wasn’t all that smart. Two men versus twenty. But Jonathan knew that with God on their side, headcounts were irrelevant. God honored Jonathan’s faith and delivered the enemy into his hands.
When we look at our circumstances and realize the odds are seemingly against us, that’s precisely when we ought to keep in mind that victory does not depend on our skills, our abilities, or our resources. Victory always depends on God. If He is on our side, anything is possible.
Thought: “I need a battlefield Jesus at my side down here in the dangerous, often messy trenches of daily life. I need Jesus the rescuer, ready to wade through pain, death, and hell itself to find me, grasp my hand, and bring me safely through.” – Joni Eareckson Tada
For further reading:
- Romans 8:31
- Psalm 118:6
- Jeremiah 1:19
- Psalm 56:11