Sun 9:30a Class; 10:30a Worship; 11:35a Communion
Bible Bites
The Few
"Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, 'Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.'" – (1 Samuel 14.6)
The Israelites were at war with the Philistines (chapter 13). They were initially victorious, but when the Philistines summoned a massive army, the Israelites were intimidated and Saul became indecisive. The situation was further aggravated by a lack of weaponry among the Israelites.
Enter Jonathan.
Jonathan was already responsible for the earlier victory against the Philistines (13.2ff). Here in chapter 14, he again takes initiative by taking his armor-bearer with him and sneaking into the nearby Philistine outpost (v 1-10). The Philistines assume that they were a couple of Israelite POWs, and bring them into their garrison (v 11f). Jonathan and his armor-bearer kill 20 Philistines in hand-to-hand combat (v 13f). The Lord also brings a sudden earthquake (v 15f) causing the Philistines to flee. Saul and the remaining Israelite forces soon join the fray, and the Israelites defeat the Philistines that day (v 23).
The verse I cited earlier was Jonathan's profession of faith in God. He understood something about God that is too easily forgotten. He knew that God is always the majority. Period. God does not need numbers, or large armies, or massive military hardware to win his battles. He only wants a few dedicated people.
Today, God does not need large churches, or large budgets, or PowerPoint, or websites, or programs to win the kingdom cause. He simply needs a few dedicated people. If he chooses to use large things, that is his business. But the Lord frequently uses small things to remind us of his wisdom, power, and ways (1 Corinthians 1.26-29).
Indeed, "The Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few." What matters for us is that we enter the fray. Will you?
