First Samuel 14:6 (KJV) states, “And Jonathan [King Saul’s son] said to the young man that bare his armour, ‘Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.'”
Is ‘maybe’ or ‘may be’ relative to God acting on our behalf, words of faith?
‘May be’ was enough for Jonathan and his armor bearer to risk their lives; is it enough for us today?
The statement, “It may be that the LORD will work for us,” suggests Jonathan’s courage and faith in God’s protection. When he encouraged his armor bearer to go with him, he also encouraged himself.
Jonathan realized they would be risking their lives because they would be vastly outnumbered, but two in agreement were better than one.
The chance or hope that God is on our side is worth us risking it all for His name and glory. Jonathan risked limb and life in God’s name, not in their names or feeble frames.
Jonathan knew three things for certain that gave him the will, courage, and faith to go against the Philistines.
- The Philistines were heathens and their enemy, who were outside the protection and covenant of God. God could deliver the Philistines into Israel’s hands by many or even by two.
There is no mention in the text of Jonathan consulting King Saul, the prophet Samuel, or even God about his attack plan.
The daring plan was a surprise, but not to God.
Jonathan considered that God might not, but there was a chance that God would give them, an army of two, a victory over the Philistine’s garrison. Because he did not say, ‘God will work for us,’ it seems that Jonathan realized there was a risk of failure, as well as a chance of success.
A chance that God would fight for them was all they wanted and needed. The possibility of a victory overruled the chance of failure because God had been gracious to him and the nation of Israel.
- Jonathan’s second reason for hope was that Israel was and is God’s covenant people, and they served and worshiped God, their protector.
- The third reason is that Jonathan was willing to take the risk; he knew “there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”
Jonathan did not doubt God’s power. There was and is no question whether God can achieve the same result using one or thousands. Whether by many or few, God can use us in his will. He can deliver us from the enemy and deliver the enemy to us.
Jonathan walked into God’s will with a maybe. Was ‘maybe’ a mustard seed of faith, a faith that moves mountains?
If Jonathan’s armor bearer trusted and followed his master into battle, surely we can hope and trust that God will be with us when we try to uphold His name.
Jonathan did not have to go against the Philistines. He could have joined his father, King Saul, who had thousands of soldiers who would fight the Philistines.
Even though he sought no approval or help from others, Jonathan was not prideful; his victory would glorify God, not himself.
What a test of faith for Jonathan and his armor bearer!
The armor bearer encouraged Jonathan to do all that was in his heart; the armor bearer was with him. Jonathan told his armor bearer the sign when God had delivered the Philistines into Israel’s hands, not their hands, and they went up to fight their enemy.
Verse 15 of 1 Samuel, chapter four states, “And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.”
With the faith of two, Israel reaped a great victory!
In a similar vein, if we do all that is in our hearts within God’s will, He will be with us and give us the victory.
I hope that you are happy and well.