Saul’s reign as Israel’s king was rocky to say the least. During a battle with the Philistines, Saul acted out of fear and offered a burnt offering, instead of waiting on Samuel to arrive (1 Sam. 13:5-9). Samuel said, “Thou hast don’t foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee” (1 Sam. 13:13). Additionally, Samuel prophesied that Saul would be replaced as king with a man after God’s own heart (1 Sam. 13:14). Needless to say, things weren’t going well in Israel.
While Saul was sulking under a pomegranate tree in Gibeah, Jonathan, his son, was plotting a secret attack against the Philistines (1 Sam. 14:1-3). Along with his armor-bearer, Jonathan secretly ran off to the Philistine’s camp. Listen to Jonathan’s faith: “It may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few” (1 Sam. 14:6). You maybe asking why Jonathan didn’t let Saul in on his secret mission. Saul wasn’t a shining example of faith and obedience, from what we read in the previous chapter. Jonathan’s faith wasn’t a product of his present environment. Instead, Jonathan had a personal faith in God.
Jonathan had faith, but it was realistic faith. “Perhaps the Lord will work for us.” The Lord may work this out, or He may not. That doesn’t sound like the faith of an overzealous televangelist! Jonathan wasn’t tempting God by going into the Philistine’s camp with only himself and his armor-bearer. No, Jonathan believed that God could save by many or by few. But God wasn’t going to work unless someone got up from under the tree of self-pity and exercised some faith. And Jonathan was right, God worked in such a way that only He received the glory.
Do you have that kind of faith? The kind of faith that says, “God might work this out, or He might not. But I’m going to pray and believe anyway.” Others might be sitting under a tree of fear and anxiety, but you don’t need others to verify your faith.
Because if it’s just you and the Lord, He can save by many or by few, even if it’s just the Lord and you.