Moving Forward with God

By Samantha Rodriguez

“One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his young armor-bearer, ‘Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.’ But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod’s brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left. On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north toward Mikmash, the other to the south toward Geba. 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.’ ‘Do all that you have in mind,’ his armor-bearer said. ‘Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.’ Jonathan said, ‘Come on, then; we will cross over toward them and let them see us. If they say to us, “Wait there until we come to you,” we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, “Come up to us,” we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.’ So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. ‘Look!’ said the Philistines. ‘The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in.’ The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, ‘Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson’ So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, ‘Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.’ Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.”—1 Samuel 14:1–14 (NIV)

Yesterday, we saw how the Israelites were in the underdog position against the Philistines. This still was not an excuse for Saul to try and take matters into his own hands by abusing the use of sacrifices for his own gain. Interestingly, the story that follows actually highlights the faith of his son, Jonathan, who clearly had a more genuine faith than his own father.

In today’s story, we see Jonathan go to a Philistine outpost secretly, just him and his young armor-bearer. Talk about embracing the title of underdog! However, we can see that Jonathan went with an honorable desire, one of seeking victory for the Lord by fighting if God made it clear He was with them.

When Jonathan tells his armor-bearer to come with him, he says, “Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” Jonathan knew God wanted them to fight with Him and for Him, so Jonathan trusted that if he approached the Philistines with this heart posture, God would show up. He knew the ultimate victory could only belong to the Lord and that nothing could get in the way of it!

The minute Jonathan saw God had given him the sign he needed to know he wouldn’t be fighting in vain or alone, Jonathan proceeded boldly! He and his armor-bearer still fought. They put in the work, and they ended up killing over twenty men that day in a huge field! These two young men accomplished a mighty feat because they went WITH and FOR their Lord! Who knows if they still felt the anxiety and fear that can so easily creep up when we step into uncomfortable situations.

Nonetheless, they stepped boldly forward because the peace of God came to them in that moment of clarity. Jonathan let his knowledge of God’s character trump the emotions and the odds up against him! What an incredible example of what it means to be the underdog, yet truly rely on God’s strength in order to endure and fight through the battles He sets before us.

The story doesn’t end here. When we take a sneak peek into the rest of the chapter, which will be touched on in tomorrow’s devotional, we’ll see that God finished the job by doing what Jonathan and his armor-bearer couldn’t do!

Sometimes, we mistake waiting in faith for being idle. The reality is, that God wants us to walk in faith every day! He wants us to have enough faith to act and step forward trusting that He goes before us and will go with us! It could look as simple as fighting for our quiet time with Him every day, fighting to have healthier relationships, walking with more grace, patience, and humility, actually living generously . . . you name it. Whatever the challenge may be, He wants us to take steps of faith because then we’ll truly make room and be ready to see Him do what we cannot do. Our God will always finish the job!

Pause: Take a moment to seriously consider these questions:

·Where am I not moving because I’ve confused waiting in faith with idleness?

·What fears are keeping me from moving forward in full trust that God’s got me?

·What do I need to start doing with the Lord and for the Lord?

Practice: Take time to journal today and reflect on the questions listed above. Don’t leave your time journaling until you’ve also written some practical steps you’ll take to step in faith instead of staying idle in fear.

Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for being so strong, mighty, and constant! You never change! You’re the same God who fought with and for Jonathan and his armor-bearer. You’re the same God who defeated sin and death by dying on the cross and resurrecting three days later. You’re the same God today who’s working in my life! Today, I’ll step in faith, trusting that You’re greater than my fears. I’ll do my part to honor, obey, and submit to you, and I know you’ll do the rest. Thank You! Amen.