RED: 1
SAMUEL 14:6-16
The
Philistines had gathered to fight the Israelites. Everything appeared in their
favour. They had all the weapons while the Israelites had none expect King Saul
and his son Jonathan. The Philistines were more in number. There 30 000
chariots, 6 000 horsemen and innumerable footmen. Besides, they had different
classes of warriors – regular soldiers as well as spoilers (commandos). The
Israeli army had drastically reduced to about 600 men. The Philistines
commandos took some strategic locations from which to lunch their attack while
the Israelites were at the disadvantaged position.
The Philistines were well fed and strong while their counterparts were hungry, weak and fainting. There was no way 600 men would face that number. In fact, the Israeli army reduced from 3 000 men to 600 out of fear. The rest had gone into hiding in caves, rocks, thickets and pits. In the midst of such uncertainty, fear and hopelessness; came Jonathan. He stood in faith in His God. He had an understanding of the God of Israel to a point where that knowledge produced unusual strength and boldness. Daniel says those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits (Daniel 13:32b). Jonathan told his armour bearer to come with him to the camp of the Philistines. This was based on a revelation he received from God’s word and conviction based on testimonies of past battles saying “... for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6b)
Are you surrounded by enemies you cannot number? Do you faint? Are the myriad of problems you are going through making you discouraged and causing you to hide in the pits and rocks of unbelief, inaction and fear? Rise up. Jonathan acted on that revelation, took a step and killed the first twenty enemies and God honoured his word. God sent an earthquake and an unusual trembling, fear and confusion into the midst of the Philistines so that each thought his neighbour was the enemy; so they began to destroy themselves furiously. Has God given you His word? Act on it. Take that step of faith in obedience to God’s command and Heaven will back you up. Every revelation not acted upon robs the recipient of a gold mine of God’s blessings.
The Philistines were well fed and strong while their counterparts were hungry, weak and fainting. There was no way 600 men would face that number. In fact, the Israeli army reduced from 3 000 men to 600 out of fear. The rest had gone into hiding in caves, rocks, thickets and pits. In the midst of such uncertainty, fear and hopelessness; came Jonathan. He stood in faith in His God. He had an understanding of the God of Israel to a point where that knowledge produced unusual strength and boldness. Daniel says those who know their God shall be strong and do exploits (Daniel 13:32b). Jonathan told his armour bearer to come with him to the camp of the Philistines. This was based on a revelation he received from God’s word and conviction based on testimonies of past battles saying “... for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6b)
Are you surrounded by enemies you cannot number? Do you faint? Are the myriad of problems you are going through making you discouraged and causing you to hide in the pits and rocks of unbelief, inaction and fear? Rise up. Jonathan acted on that revelation, took a step and killed the first twenty enemies and God honoured his word. God sent an earthquake and an unusual trembling, fear and confusion into the midst of the Philistines so that each thought his neighbour was the enemy; so they began to destroy themselves furiously. Has God given you His word? Act on it. Take that step of faith in obedience to God’s command and Heaven will back you up. Every revelation not acted upon robs the recipient of a gold mine of God’s blessings.
MEMORIZE:
DEUTERONOMY 29:29 –The secret things belong to the LORD our God; but those
things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may
do all the words of this law.
