Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on now, let’s go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There’s no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it.”
1 Samuel 14:6 MSG
The dawn light glinted off the armour as the Philistine army stretched across the valley, a menacing shadow against the Israelite hills. Imagine yourself as King Saul, new on the job, facing enemies like angry bees buzzing across the land. King Saul’s heart pounded with apprehension. His men were shaking in their sandals, hiding in caves and cracks, wishing they were elsewhere. But amidst the mounting fear, one figure stood unbowed: Jonathan, the king’s son. His eyes ablaze with a conviction deeper than any sword.
Meanwhile, Saul had earlier crushed the Ammonites, proof of God’s favour. But facing this behemoth, doubts gnawed at the king’s faith. Not Jonathan. With words that echoed through the valley, he declared, “…There’s no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it.” (1 Samuel 14:6)
Inspired by this unwavering faith, Jonathan didn’t wait for trembling knees and dwindling ranks to dictate his actions. He took a leap, not just one step across the valley, but a leap of faith into the heart of the enemy camp. Armed with his faith along with his armour bearer, he became a living testament to his words.
His act was a spark in the tinderbox of fear. As Jonathan and his companion struck down the first Philistines, a tremor unlike any earthquake ran through the enemy ranks. The earth didn’t shudder, but hearts did. Panic, “sent by God,” as the scriptures tell us, gripped the Philistines. Their fear, a venomous serpent, turned inwards, twisting men against one another. Their formidable army, a mighty oak uprooted by faith, crumbled before the eyes of the trembling Israelites.
In this first bloody encounter, Jonathan and his armor bearer killed about twenty men. That set off a terrific upheaval in both camp and field, the soldiers in the garrison and the raiding squad badly shaken up, the ground itself shuddering—panic like you’ve never seen before!
1 Samuel 14:14-15 MSG
Jonathan’s story is a beacon in the darkness of doubt. It whispers that victories aren’t measured by the size of armies, but by the strength of our faith. It reminds us that when fear threatens to paralyze us, choosing faith, like Jonathan, can unleash a tidal wave of God’s power.
So, when giants loom and shadows lengthen, remember Jonathan’s leap. Let his faith be your compass, guiding you through the valley of fear and into the sunlit plains of victory. Remember, God delights in surprising the world with triumphs born not from earthly might but from the unwavering trust of a simple, courageous heart.
