ONE OR MORE, IT MATTERS NOT!

1 Samuel 14:1-14 NASB

Now the day came that Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come, and let’s cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. [2] Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is in Migron. And the people who were with him numbered about six hundred men; [3] and Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord at Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. [4] Now between the gorges by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side; and the name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other, Seneh. [5] The one crag rose on the north opposite Michmash, and the other on the south opposite Geba. [6] Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come, and let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men; perhaps the Lord will work for us, because the Lord is not limited to saving by many or by few!” [7] His armor bearer said to him, “Do everything that is in your heart; turn yourself to it, and here I am with you, as your heart desires.” [8] Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we are going to cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. [9] If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you’; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. [10] But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has handed them over to us; and this shall be the sign to us.” [11] When the two of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, the Philistines said, “Behold, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have kept themselves hidden.” [12] So the men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and we will inform you of something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has handed them over to Israel.” [13] Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and the men fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him. [14] Now that first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer inflicted was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land.

 

Bigger is not always better for a positive outcome and more is not necessarily needed for a more significantly positive overcome in a situation.

The Lord expressly confirms this in Deuteronomy 32:30, Joshua 23:10 and Isaiah 30:17, number or size really doesn’t matter to the Lord. One can do just as many. Many times, we think in terms of sizes and number in achieving a goal and are deterred when we feel inadequate or outnumbered. All the Lord needs to achieve His will is one willing and obedient person, according to Psalm 14:2, the Lord looks down, looking for one man.

As Jonathan told his armour bearer in verse six, God does not depend on large numbers to accomplish His will. Indeed! The Lord can empower and endow one man or a few just as much as He can do many to carry out His will and purpose.

Judges 7 is a testament that number indeed does not matter in God's plan. "The people are still too many," says the Lord to Gideon. Judges 7:4. God cut Gideon's army to 300- really God! Gideon's army was at this time thirty-two thousand strong, and twenty-two thousand was sent back.

With only three hundred men who lapped the Lord delivered the Midianites into Gideon’s hands. That's alright then since we don’t depend on a man to deliver us but God to deliver us every time.

Abraham went against five kings and their platoons with only 318 men born in his household, in Genesis 14:14. 318 men are no physical match for an experienced brutal army of the five kings but in God’s hand, they were more than enough.

This should be an encouragement for those of us who feel like we are alone in places where our faith, race, colour, and skill may be questioned. Especially if you are one of a few believers wherever you find yourself, in your job, business, community and family. You might be the only believer in your family, and you are thinking of how you will impact your family by yourself. God has shown us through Jonathan, that He can and will accomplish significant things through any person who trusts Him; big, small, strong, or weak.

“It may be that the Lord will work for us” — This expression did not imply a doubt; it simply signified that the object that Jonathan aimed at was not his power but was depended on God - and that he expected success neither from his strength and military ability nor his merit but totally on God’s grace and ability.

In Judges 15, we see Samson, one man the Lord used several times to defeat a large army only with the jawbone of an Ass.

Elisha led the army of Israel to victory over the Aramean army without anyone of them lifting a finger or entering any combat.

The words “there is no restraint unto the Lord” imply at least a few things. First, there is no restraint in terms of the Lord’s power, as we have already discussed His omnipotence. There is nothing or anyone who can put chains and fetters on our God to bind Him or hinder Him in any way from doing anything that He desires to do. He does whatsoever He pleases with no exceptions- if this were not true, then He would not be God. The Lord needs you, despite your perceived unsuitability, He doesn’t need a crowd, a strong or weak person, He needs a willing, humble, and obedient person. Are you one?

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

-         How have you experienced God’s miracle of working through one or few or many people in your life?

-         In what area of life are you seeking and army to help when?

-         As Jonathan did, could you set s standard of how the Lord can pick you for His purpose?

-         How confident and assured are you to face the enemy, knowing the Lord will give you victory?

PRAYER: Father, my Rock, and fortress, thank you for encouraging me with the knowledge that number doesn’t matter to you, use me Lord wherever, you deem fit in Jesus’ name, amen.

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