1 Samuel 14:1
This chapter of the bible emphasizes the victory of the Israelites over the Philistines but the story itself starts with a young man who had the faith and courage to do the unthinkable.
This is the history of a group of discouraged, frustrated, outnumbered and inadequately armed soldiers. With no hope of victory, no hope of escape. Their leader King Saul has run out of ideas and in hiding.
Yet the bible says in verse 23 of chapter 14 …23 So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.
What happened? What was it that changed their situation?
It was faith, the daring faith of a young man who dared to trust and believe that God can do the impossible.
The lord saved Israel on that day because Jonathan the son of Saul did the unthinkable.
In 1 Samuel 14:1 we read that on
14 1 One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.
It is interesting that Jonathan did not tell his father what he was about to do.
He did not tell any of the other soldiers his plans.
Why? Everyone would have thought what he was about to do was reckless and mad.
I can just imagine his armor bearer saying to himself, “this is suicidal but I have no choice”. “He is the King’s son and as an armor bearer I have no choice but to follow him”.
6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
When our faith propels us to do the unthinkable it is best to keep it to ourselves, just go ahead and do it.
Daring faith looks beyond what it sees
Daring faith listens beyond what it hears
Daring faith casts out fear and doubt before it acts.
Jonathan had to trust God and believe that God was the only one who could help him, it did not really matter how many soldiers he had, he knew God was going to do the impossible through him and his armourbearer.
Jonathan and his armor bearer were taking on a whole garrison of Philistines.
His trust was not in his ability to fight.
His trust was not in His weapon.
His trust was not in who his father was.
His trust was in the God who rules in the affairs of men.
His trust was God who could save with many or with little.
He trusted God.
He believed that God was able to do what man cannot do.
In Mark 9: 23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
To those who believe all things are possible.
As long as you are a believer you can do the impossible, you can do daring things.
The key is in believing that Jesus’ promise is yes and amen.
Many believers have lost heart and failed in their quest for victory because they failed to trust the Word of Jesus that “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Israel had been under the siege and oppression of the philistines for years, the Philistines had terrorized Israel, deprived them of freedom. Yet Saul and his soldiers remained in fear.
The Philistines were many and there was only Jonathan and his armourbearer. Scripture says in 1 Samuel 14:13-15
13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them. 14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land.
15 And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling
God helped Jonathan and his armourbearer to defeat the Philistines because Jonathan had a daring faith.
You can today gain victory for yourself
You can gain restoration.
You can gain your territory back.
God is waiting for you to make a bold move just like Jonathan and his armourbearer. God wants you to trust Him so He can fight for you.
1 John 5:4-5
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
You are born of God you and you are an overcomer.
You are a believer.
Do something daring today.
Bless someone today
Pray and believe God for someone’s healing today.
Praise God aloud today.
Give something today.
Just do something that you have never done before and dare yourself.
To him who believes all things are possible.
