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. The battle wasn’t going well. The Philistines mustered a mighty army of 3,000 chariots, 6,000 charioteers, and warriors as far as the eye could see. Saul’s army, on the other hand, was vastly outnumbered with merely 3,000 warriors. Fearful that his men would scatter, Saul took matters into his own hands and sacrificed the burnt offering rather than wait for Samuel. Verse 15 says, “When Saul counted the men who were still with him, he found only 600 were left!” Not good.
So, rather than stay with his father, Jonathan took his armor-bearer and approached the Philistine garrison without telling anyone. Tactically, Jonathan’s move wasn’t all that smart. Yet Jonathan stepped out in faith. He knew that with God on their side, headcounts were irrelevant.
In the end, Jonathan and his armor-bearer wiped out some twenty men in all. Panic broke out in the Philistine army. Saul’s lookouts saw the vast army of Philistines “melt away in every direction” (verse 16). God honored Jonathan’s faith and delivered the enemy into his hands.
We might look at our circumstances and think the odds are against us. That’s precisely what the enemy wants us to believe. “There’s no way . . . “he whispers in our ear. “Just give up. It’s not worth the fight,” he says. It’s important to remember that God never speaks defeat over our lives. On the contrary, He calls us more-than-conquerors through Him who loves us (Romans 8:37). The New Living Testament translates this verse, “Despite all these things (trouble, calamity, hunger, etc.) overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loves us.”
Our victory does not depend on odds, skills, abilities, resources, or strength. Victory always depends on God. If He is on our side, what right do we have to speak defeat over our circumstances? Do we not serve a mighty God? If He is on our side, anything is possible. Step out in faith, for nothing can hinder the Lord.
Prayer: Lord, you know how messy life can get. Yet every evil is rendered impotent against your love. No tribulation is so powerful that you aren’t even more powerful. When I see many warriors, you see a heavenly army more forceful than anything the enemy can send my way. Help us claim victory in every circumstance, for with you anything is possible. In your name we pray, Amen.