Daily Encouragement: Year 2, Day 60
From Handbook to God’s Promises
GOD’S POWER OVER ALL THINGS
Climb the Cliff
Read 1 Samuel 14:6–14
Anyone who has spent time in church school can repeat the story of David’s heroic triumph against Goliath, the Philistine giant (told in 1 Samuel 17), but far fewer can tell of Jonathan’s act of courage retold in this passage. Yet his story reveals a powerful principle for the spiritual life.
An arrogant enemy vastly outnumbered God’s people and was besieging the nation. What’s worse, only King Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons! (The Philistines had sequestered all the blacksmiths to keep Israel from making iron weapons; 1 Samuel 13:16–22). The situation was grim, but Jonathan decided to take the first step toward victory. In this passage we see him consulting with his armor bearer about a bold attack, taken in the power of God. His point of view can be paraphrased: “There are 20 of them and two of us, but what does that matter to God? He is as able to save with a few as He is with many. Besides, He’s already promised to defeat the Philistines” (9:16).
In broad daylight Jonathan and his young comrade engage in a frontal assault on a fortified position—and they win. Before long, they have eliminated 20 Philistines in hand-to-hand combat. Imagine the two of them standing back-to-back, panting like dogs and looking at the carnage around them. Suddenly the ground begins to shake, and they watch the rest of the Philistine army “melting away in all directions” because of God-induced, sheer panic (1 Samuel 14:16).
What gave Jonathan the guts to undertake such a mission? To be sure, it wasn’t self-confidence; rather, it was confidence in the power of God to work on behalf of His people. Jonathan was willing to stake his life on that.
Is there an army on your horizon today? Are raiding parties of doubt, sickness, worry, or fear making surprise attacks on you or your family? All it takes is a first step of faith joining hands with a promise to bring the victory to light. Jonathan had—as you can have—confidence in the power of God. Remember: God’s power does not depend on your numbers. Climb up the cliff and see how He chooses to manifest His power on your behalf.
God’s Promise: The amount of power you need is the amount He is prepared to provide.