Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
His armor-bearer replied, “Do all that is in your heart. Go ahead; I am with you, heart and soul.” – 1 Samuel 14:6-7
I love Jonathan’s willingness to trust in God and face his foe head-on with the Lord. There he was, a warrior prince, about to call out the enemy with only his armor-bearer at his side. And His God in the lead.
Two against twenty does not seem like a fair battle. Logic would assume the two would surely be the losers in this face-off. Except these two had the strength of God on their side. Jonathan’s faith was secure in the One who could turn the tide of victory, whether by many or by few. And he had the companionship of a devoted servant alongside him, a man who vowed to be with him, heart and soul.
With a twist of the unexpected, Jonathan and his armor-bearer beat the odds. Twenty warriors fell beneath the sword of two, proving many stand no chance against a few good men and their God.
This text encourages me that having the most is not an assurance of having the best. My faith is always the determining factor in every situation, no matter the size of the enemy facing me at any given time.
The world strives to amass a fortune, fighting to obtain power and fame. Many, most, and best are catchwords of the day. Yet, all the while, this spiraling quest leads to emptiness and a perpetual grasping for more.
In the realm of faith, God’s economy is different.
Less is more.
Giving is better than receiving.
Surrendering is the path to victory.
Few outweigh the many.
All of the above require trust in the majority of One.
Jonathan’s companion was devoted heart and soul because he was confident of his prince’s faith in the Lord. The odds were against them in the physical realm, but that was not their true battleground. Their faith stood solid on celestial soil, rooted in the assurance that nothing could hinder the Lord from saving them. Whether by many or by few.
And so it is with us, fellow warriors. We may seem outnumbered. But we are not outmaneuvered. We are never left to fight a battle apart from the Lord’s divine intervention. Nor do we face a war that will not be victorious for us in the end.
When your strength is waning, and you think you are outmanned and outgunned, I challenge you to lift your head.
In this raging battle where you feel alone and abandoned, remember you are not. God is with you even when you cannot see Him.
Listen for the whisper of His truth splintering the stillness. And if you cannot hear His voice, trust His heart and watch faith turn the tide in your favor — no matter the appearance of your circumstances.
The One who fights for you is much stronger than those who oppose you. Our God is mighty to save even the most tired of saints. So allow His strength to come, dear one. Invite His presence to go before you as you arm yourself for one more climb to call out the enemy with the Spirit of the Lord as your weapon of warfare.
And remember: Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.
Choose to be one of the faithful.
Choose to be one of the few.
And keep fighting alongside your Lord — with all of your heart and soul.
After all, you stand with the majority of One.
And that is enough to carry the day.
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* Addendum:
Jonathan and his armor-bearer’s defeat of the twenty was only the first assault of the battle.
Then terror struck the Philistines in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even those in the outposts and raiding parties trembled. Indeed, the earth quaked and panic spread from God . . .
Then Saul and all his troops assembled and marched to the battle, and they found the Philistines in total confusion, with each man wielding the sword against his neighbor. And the Hebrews who had previously gone up into the surrounding camps of the Philistines now went over to the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. When all the Israelites who had been hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also joined Saul and Jonathan in the battle . . . So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle moved on . . . – 1 Samuel 14:15;20-23
The battle you are fighting is not for you alone. Many others are affected by your decision to live by faith. Or not. May we choose wisely and live honorably before our God. And watch the enemy implode in confusion and defeat as our LORD has the final say.