Many accounts in the Bible teach us about God’s faithfulness with the little that we have. Everything in the Bible was written for us to learn from (Romans 15:4). One of those accounts is in 1 Samuel 14, the story of Jonathan and his armorer. At this time, Israel was under constant harassment by the Philistines. However, Jonathan decided to ambush them one day with the assistance of his armor-bearer. Here were two people against a much larger army
But Jonathan’s faith in God, attitude, and mindset triggered a mighty onslaught and victory. He trusted God before launching the attack and ensured that it was a war, he was supposed to engage in. 1 Samuel 14:6 reads; Jonathan said to his armor-bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few! (NLT). The New King James Version says, “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”.
In verses 8-10, Jonathan also sought God’s approval to engage in the battle, the assurance of a sign. “Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, which will be a sign to us.”
The lesson from these verses is that God does not look at numbers, appearance, or capability; as long as we have faith in Him, He will intervene on our behalf. God responds to unwavering faith in His ability and power. So whatever God has given you to use, trust God’s ability to engage with it. David, one person, killed Goliath with just a sling (1 Samuel 17:45-54). God used trumpets and torches through Gideon with an army of 300 against the Midianites (Judges 7). God intervened for Jonathan and his bodyguard to kill 20 people; God confused their opponents’ camps for Gideon and Jonathan. God infused confusion is what destroyed their enemies, leading to victory. So, Trust God to magnify what you have. Trust God for more significant outcomes, for nothing can hinder the Lord, whether by many or by few.
May God give grant us courage and boldness to engage what we have. Ask God for ideas and strategies to engage what you currently have.