I was listening to a podcast today, from Solid Rock church. Great church, by the way. The teaching was taken from 1 Samuel 13 (I think!) It was talking about how the Philistines and Israelites were preparing to go to war with each other.
The passage says in verse 5: 'The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore.' The italics are mine.
Later, in chapter 14, verse 2, it goes on to say: 'Saul (the king of Israel) was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about 600 men...'
You get the picture.
These dudes are WAY outnumbered. Its 600 men against an army 'as numerous as the sand on the seashore.' I would be shaking in my boots... or my flip flops.
However, the story is not over. Saul was unrighteous, and an ungodly man. But his son, Jonathan loved and trusted the Lord. Jonathan was probably rather young here, maybe a teen. Its not known exactly, but he was young, passionate and full of energy.
This is Jonathan's response:
"Jonathan said to his armor bearer, '...Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.'" WOW! That response blows me away. What a man full of faith. He did not doubt God, even in the midst of great strife.
The speaker of the podcast mentioned how there was more faith in those thirteen words, than in many Christians entire lives. I would have to agree.
Jonathan, a young, teenage boy, trusted God. Despite the fact that, humanly speaking, the odds were against the army of Israel, despite the fact that many did not trust God, despite the fact that his own father was a poor ruler, and selfish leader. Jonathan was full of faith... and with great reason. The Lord had never left him, and He knew that his life was not his own, but rather, it belonged to God.
Here is the rest of the story: "When all the Israelites who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. So the Lord rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven." (14: 22-23.)
The more I read and think about the words of scripture, the more obvious it becomes; God blesses those with great faith. He blesses those who do not doubt, even when others are, even when it would be the easiest thing to do.
Think of how David defeated Goliath, the giant with a few small stones.
Remember how Abraham obeyed God when he told him to sacrifice his only son. There is no account of Abraham hesitating, or arguing with God. And in the end, God spared his son, because, in the words of God, from Genesis 22, verse 12: "Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Of course God knew Abraham's faith, but now Abraham knew, too, just how deep his faith was.
Think of Joseph. He became second in command in Egypt, and never wavered in his faith. He fled temptation and served prison time because of it. He was reunited with his family, and continued to worship God.
There are dozens of others I could mention. These men (and women... such as Ruth and Mary) were not spared from hardship... many of them had incredibly difficult lives, but that did not hinder their faith. They believed, in spite of the hardship in their lives. They believed, because God had always been true to His word, and continued, throughout their lives, to be faithful. And, the good news is, He is the same God today, as he was at the dawn of time. The same faithful God that was evident in the aforementioned lives. He continues to keep his promises. He loves us.
Oh, to have a childlike faith.
