English Devotion - Between The Passes

Devotion: 1 Samuel 14: 1-15       

Between The Passes

 

Jonathan is the son of Saul and communication between the two was not exactly what you would wish between a father and son.

He grew tired of the standoff between the Philistines and the Israelites.

So, when Saul rested under a pomegranate tree together with his 600 hundred men, Jonathan just took off and did not tell his father, Saul, where he was going.

He makes a bold and daring move with his armor-bearer and his plan was dependent upon the LORD.

Jonathan did not focus upon man as his father did and will continue to do, but his focus was upon the LORD.

Although his armor-bearer was vastly outnumbered and greatly surpassed in military technology he could strengthen himself in promises such as in Leviticus 26:8: Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you.

On his way to the Philistine garrison, Jonathan saw a strategic position – a narrow path, a pass with large, sharp rocks on either side as only few men could easily fight against a much larger number at this strategic place.

For Jonathan, this was more than a scouting expedition. He wanted to see what God might do through two men who trusted Him and stepped out boldly.

He knew the only thing that can be said to restrain God is our unbelief, Matthew 13:58 says God’s power is never restrained but His will may be restrained by our unbelief.

When his armor-bearer said to him, ‘Go then; here I am with you’ this shows when God uses a man, He almost always calls others around the man to support and help him because they are just as important in getting God’s work done as the man God uses.

In Judges 6:36-40, Gideon had a confirmed word of God to guide him, yet he doubted God’s word but Jonathan did not doubt a word from God.

He was willing to take it one step at a time, and let God plan it out. Faith is willing to let God know the whole plan, and to know our part one step at a time.

Jonathan knew that the battle was the LORD’s, yet he knew God would use him to fight, he didn’t lay down his sword and start praying that God would strike them all down but he prayed and made sure his sword was sharp and trusted God would use him to strike them all down.

God was more than able to set the Philistines against each other, If the Israelites had no swords, the Lord would use the swords of the Philistines against the Philistines.

Jonathan used his heart and sword, but God did what he could not do. he sent a great earthquake to terrify the Philistines.

Often, we wait around for God to do what we can do. But God will often do miracles, what He alone can do if we will do what we can do. Then God can do what he can do.

Seek God, read his word, pray, and follow as a disciple of the Lord Jesus.

 

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the many lessons that we can learn from the history of the people and kings of Israel. Help us to listen to Your voice and pay heed to Your word. for it is our desire to honor You in thought, word, deed, and motive. I ask this in Jesus' name AMEN.

Blessings & Prayers 

Pastor. Bobby Leonard