Daily Devotional

-April 13, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-Little Is Much When God Is In It-

“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.’”

(1 Samuel 14:6).

Saul, Jonathan’s father was king over Israel, their first king, and Jonathan served under his him in the army. At the time the Philistines were their greatest threat and bitterest foe. They were fierce fighters and very powerful. Saul and his main army of 600 men were with him in Gibeah. Jonathan and his young armor bearer snuck out of camp to engage the enemy on their own.

Jonathan had great faith and courage, and believed that God could deliver by many or by few. Someone once said, “One with God is a majority.” Jonathan had a plan: if he called out to the Philistines and they if responded, “Wait until we come to you,” then Jonathan and armorbearer would stay put, but if if they said, “Come up to us,” then they would go up to them and the Lord would deliver the enemy to them. Jonathan sought this sign from the Lord.

Sure enough, the Philistines said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan had his sign from the Lord. This story reminds us of Gideon and the sign he sought from the Lord by putting out the fleece.” If it was God’s will to fight the Midianities, he asked that there be dew only on the fleece and not on the ground. Then he switched it and asked for dew to be on the ground not on the fleece. When we want to know God’s will we sometimes ask God to show us a sign.

Jonathan and his armorbearer climbed up the steep path on their hands and knees to fight the Philistines. This is symbolic of prayer on our knees that we bring before the throne of grace. Jonathan and his armorbearer killed 20 Philistines within a space of only about half an acre. It was a great victory. Then Saul and his army heard a great commotion in the camp of the enemy. Saul took role call and discovered Jonathan and his armorbearer were missing. They joined the battle and defeated them decisively. God had brought fear and confusion among upon the enemy.

What a great victory! The Lord did deliver by few. Little is much when God is in it. The hymn writer Kittie Louise Suffield wrote, “Little is much, when God is in it; labor not for wealth or fame; There’s a crown and you can win it, if you go in Jesus’ name.”

We need to trust the Lord and step out in faith to achieve the victory in the spiritual realm. There are numerous examples in Scripture of those who by themselves or in a small group did great exploits for God. Samson killed a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey; Shamgar killed 600 Philistines with an ox goad; Jael killed a commander of the Canaanites with a hammer and a tent peg. The list goes on and on. God brings about His power through the weakness of His servants.

Zechariah 4:6 says, “So he answered and said to me: ‘This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.’” The battle is the Lord’s and He gets all the glory. We are in His side.

Have a blessed day fighting the good fight of faith by the power of the Holy Spirit. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean