1 Samuel 14:6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried 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 can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.”
Great victories can be won by only a few if faith accompanies them.
We all love David and Goliath stories, don’t we? Cheering for the underdog runs deep in the human spirit. We admire the courage and faith of people who persevere in spite of overwhelming odds. People like Jonathan, David’s closest friend.
David’s victory over Goliath reigns as one of the most beloved Bible stories. But Jonathan’s bravery in standing up against the Philistines is no less impressive. Jonathan and his armor bearer had slipped out of Israel’s encampment to survey the Philistine garrison and attack. But before barging in on their enemies, Jonathan asked God for a sign. When it became clear the Lord said “Go,” Jonathan fearlessly engaged the whole army in battle. God responded to his faith, and caused panic to spread in the Philistine camp. The Israelites then rallied and totally destroyed the Philistines.
But it started with only two brave men.
The push for success drives our culture. Success defined by big numbers, big money, big followers on social media. But God evaluates success quite differently. “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7). And God seems quite fond of using the “least” to upend the “great.”
A team of only four women in our small church is leading the effort to fill shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. Besides filling the boxes with items for children in poverty-stricken countries, the organization asks for a $10 donation for each box to cover mailing costs. When the ladies were praying about how many boxes to get, one lady said, “How about 150?” Although they realized 150 boxes would be a heavy lift for our little congregation, they believed God would use the faith of a few to do something greater.
Within two weeks, someone outside of our church—unsolicited—donated $1,500 to cover shipping costs!
So don’t be discouraged if you’re in a situation where you’re outnumbered, outclassed or outspent. Trust in God and walk in faith, remembering it only takes a few.