A Mighty Minority

Setting the scene

The Philistines have established Michmash (1 Samuel 13:2, 5) as their base camp. (More on that on Obedience During Emergencies) Not only that, but the Philistines have also sent out raiding parties to control three of the roads that provided access to Michmash, and later a fourth detachment was sent to the pass at Michmash and this would prevent Israelite troops from moving north from Geba. The way the Philistines deployed their troops not only secured their camp at Michmash it also sealed Saul’s camp at Geba from any reinforcements that might come from Israel’s tribes to the north.

Things are not looking good for Saul and his troops. The largest recorded Philistine army was encamped less than two miles away and any hope of assistance from the north had been cut off.

But wait, there’s more!

Let’s talk about weapons. The Philistines possessed a large number of metal weapons. The Philistines also kept Israel form having access to metallurgical technology. The only weapons the Israelites possessed were made of wood and stone. (Bergen, Robert D. The New American Commentary. Broadman & Holman, 1996. p154) 1 Samuel 13:19-21 also describes how the Israelites who had metal farming tools had to take them to the Philistines to have them sharpened for a hefty fee. So the Philistines successfully kept the Israelites from having metal weapons while simultaneously oppressing them financially.

Why?

Why is this information important?

Why did the writer feel the need to mention these details?

What does all this have to do with anything?

Clearly, from a human perspective, Israel had no chance of winning this. The Israelite army is outnumbered, “outgunned” and cut off from receiving reinforcements.

I am thankful to God that we have these descriptions that paint a clear picture of how hopeless the Israelite situation was. The Philistines had more soldiers, chariots, horses, better weapons, and very likely more experience in battle. This description should remind every good Hebrew boy and girl, man and woman, of Exodus 14 when Pharaoh and his chariots persecuted Israel who was humanly helpless and hopeless.

Spoiler Alert!

The helplessness and human hopelessness of Israel help drive home the main point of this story, the main point of the Bible. It is God who makes all the difference. In the New Testament, you find the same key idea. This is how John put it,

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
1 John 5:12 NKJV

Same idea. The most important question is not which side has the most or best weapons or largest army, but rather which side is with God.

Paul also makes the same point in a powerful way.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 
- Romans 8:31 NKJV

How’s your relationship with God?

Sadly, Saul, the commander of the Israelite army dishonored God through fear-inspired disobedience. (For more on that check out Obedience During Emergencies) Whatever human/physical support/advantage Saul had hoped to secure through his disobedience to God’s command clearly would not be enough to turn the tide of battle in his favor. The one thing Saul had going for him was his faithfulness to God and now that he had sacrificed that he is left with no hopes of winning this battle against the Philistines.

Enter Jonathan

Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. 
- 1 Samuel 14:1 NKJV

Saul has 600 men and a priest and seems to be essentially holding court outdoors, as it had been in the period of the Judges (Judges 4:6). Jonathan leaves without saying anything to his father.

Nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.

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.”

So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”
- 1 Samuel 14:6-7 NKJV

What a powerful theological insight! Absolutely nothing refrains the Lord from saving. Numbers don’t matter. If we can remember this, and apply this to our lives, and live this truth, it would end all our anxiety. If we can internalize this truth, it will transform how we live, how we interact with reality.

The way I think about this is that nothing outside of myself can limit what God can do in and through me. I am the only limiting factor for what God can do in my life. Saul had disobeyed God and now sat around with 600 men with no hope of winning. Meanwhile, Jonathan realizes that salvation must come from God and that God does not need a mighty army to save. After all, God had delivered the Israelites from Egypt without needing an army or a single weapon.

God gives us strength and abilities and resources. God blesses and multiplies the gifts He gives us and we can grow and develop and receive more responsibilities. But we must never confuse that with us somehow helping God or adding to what He can do. When God enables us to do great things for Him and those around us, He gets all the honor and glory.

Jonathan had placed his trust in God and that allowed him to move forward instead of being paralyzed by fear. Jonathan, interestingly, refers to the Philistines as “uncircumcised men” the equivalent of calling them godless or heathens. Essentially as a group that did not have a relationship with God. It is also worth noting that Jonathan was not presumptuous. There was theological support for his actions and he figured God could use him. His armorbearer agreed and decided to join Jonathan.

Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a sign to us.”
- 1 Samuel 14:8-10 NKJV

Jonathan was not careless, he was not suicidal. Jonathan was in a sense having a dialogue with God, a relationship where He created opportunities for God to reveal His will. Jonathan allowed God to open and close doors as he progressed. This way Jonathan was in the position of a servant following God’s leading as opposed to foolishly rushing ahead assuming God would be with him. This behavior shows wisdom and maturity. Jonathan’s actions would not only place his life in harm’s way but also the life of his armorbearer, and perhaps by extent even the well being of his father and Israel’s small army.

Looking at it from a different perspective Jonathan’s plan for fighting the Philistines defies all military logic. First of all, the only strategy that Jonathan and his armorbearer could have is the element of surprise. He was about to give that up by willingly showing himself to the Philistines. Secondly, it would make more military sense to let the enemy exhaust himself coming down to meet him. This would also cause his enemies to give up their superior position on the high ground. Thirdly, exhausting himself scaling a sheer rock wall to then fight the enemy would be suicide, unless of course “the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel”

So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden.” Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.”

Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” 

- 1 Samuel 14:11-12 NKJV

The Philistines referred to Jonathan and his armorbearer as if they were animals or insects. said the equivalent of “come over here and I’ll teach you a thing or two.” This was all that Jonathan needed to hear. This was the sign! The enemy was defeated! God had given them the victory, Jonathan and his armorbearer simply had to claim their victory.

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. That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land.
- 1 Samuel 14:13-14 NKJV

Even though God showed Jonathan that He was giving him the victory, Jonathan still had to go up. So Jonathan climbed the rock the then proceeded to attack all the man who never saw it coming. I guess that is one upside to Jonathan’s plan. It was so “bad” that it was “good.” Who would ever expect someone to climb the rock face and attack them in their garrison? It would be suicide, no one in their right mind would do such a thing. But that is exactly what Jonathan did, and because God had delivered the Philistines into the hand of Israel they all fell before Jonathan. Jonathan cut them down and his armorbearer confirmed the kill.

Practical Faith

I noticed a nice rhythm to this interaction between Jonathan and God. Jonathan knows that God can give them victory. Jonathan decides to test out his idea. He shares his idea and theology with his armorbearer. His armorbearer supports him. Together they move by faith while asking God to direct their path. God revealed to them that indeed they were on the right path and it was His will to deliver the Philistines into the hand of Israel. Then they climb and begin to fight, as they fight they experience the victories that God had in store for them.

But God is not done yet

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. Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there.
- 1 Samuel 14:15-16 NKJV

God now goes above and beyond what Jonathan and his armorbearer could ever accomplish. There is an earthquake and the Philistine army began to melt away.

The watchmen of Saul and all of Israel are about to be reminded that victory comes from God.

My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
- Psalm 62:7 New Living Translation

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
Proverbs 21:31 New Living Translation

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV

This is a universal truth that we need to learn, continually. The best way to learn this lesson is to experience it.

What is God calling you to do?

How are you ministering to your neighbor?

How are you showing God’s love to those around you?

How are you impacting those around you for the kingdom of God?

Can you find one more friend and make a difference?

Pray.

Move forward.

Take a step and ask God to show you if indeed this is His will for you.

God is still the same.

His power is still at work. He wants to use His children to spread the good news of Salvation in Jesus. God calls us to be salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13-16), to be His hands and feet on earth (1 Corinthians 12).

And of course, being loving is a big part of being a follower of God.

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:35 NKJV

God is willing to give us the victories.

God is able to give us the victories.

The only question then, my friends, is whether we are willing to take some steps in faith in the direction we believe God is leading and see if He indeed continues to bless and open doors.

Will you move out of your comfort zone in faith? For the honor and glory of God?

That is the only way you will experience His power at work in your life to produce great victories for His kingdom.

God is not waiting for a majority.

God is waiting for you.

Are you willing?