One of my favorite Bible stories is the account of Jonathan and his armor bearer written in 1 Samuel 13 & 14. The Philistine army had beaten King Saul and the Israelite army so soundly that they were driven into hiding, but Jonathan, Saul’s son, believed that God was going to provide a great victory over the Philistines.
While the Israelite army hid… Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6 NIV His young armor bearer responds, “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” (Verse 7)
I admire the faith of Jonathan and the unnamed armor bearer so much… “Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” — and then the armor bearer says… “Let’s do this!” Two Israelites against thousands of Philistines… sounds like an epic, heroic, Lord of the Rings type of stuff, doesn’t it?
You should read the story because the outcome is remarkable. Jonathan and his young armor bearer attack a Philistine outpost and kill over 20 enemy soldiers. During the attack, God causes a confusing panic to strike the entire Philistine army, and they were all eventually completely destroyed.
As I prepared this week for our new message series UNDETERRED, I was reminded of the faith of Jonathan and that armor bearer. They both BELIEVED that nothing could stop God from rescuing them in that situation, because they knew that God was always with His people. “Nothing can hinder the Lord…” I have spent some time this week reflecting in prayer if I have that kind of faith in God. I want to have that kind of faith. The kind of faith that demonstrates if something is God’s will… I am all in! “Let’s do this!”
You see, the startling reality of this story is about just who the army of God was on that day. It wasn’t the King and his hundreds of soldiers… they weren’t the army of God that day… they were not trusting in His will and purposes… they were hiding in a fruit grove. It would seem like they were the army of God… they were the circumcised men after all… but the army of God that day consisted of just two men who believed in God and His purposes for Israel…. And that day, God didn’t need hundreds… He just needed two.
So this past week I have pondered… just who is the army of God today? It is His church. The people “called out” — that is what the word “church” means… called out to accomplish God’s will and purposes. But sadly, so much of the church seems to be hiding in a fruit grove rather than boldly advancing His Kingdom today. We are too distracted with other pursuits. Our world is just too busy.
I want to be like Jonathan and that young armor bearer… determined that God is invincible — His will is undeterred — and live the adventure of risk-taking for the advancement of His Kingdom. May you and I be like those two guys… who knew… who KNEW… that nothing can hinder the Lord. And may we be people who live out… “Do all that you have in mind, King Jesus, I am with you heart and soul!” Let’s be the army of God!
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