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Jonathan’s Faith

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Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few." [1Samuel 14:6]

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Israel fought with the Philistines.

The first king, Saul, of the Israelites picked 3,000 soldiers for the battle with the Philistines.

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Saul led 2,000 of them and his son, Jonathan led the other 1,000.

Jonathan was a brave, good, and a faithful prince.

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Jonathan did not hesitate to attack the Philistine Army with only 1,000 soldiers.

The Philistines were so surprised, because the soldiers of Israel sneaked in to them.

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This news was spreading all around the area.

The Philistines gathered to fight with the Israelites.

The Philistine Army gathered like the sand on the shore in multitude.

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The Israelites watching the gathering lost their confidence.

And they were so afraid that they began to hide in caves and behind trees.

Other people ran across the Jordan river.

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Now only Saul and 600 Israelites soldiers were left.

They did not have swords or spears only mattocks, axes, and sharp forks.

Only Saul and Jonathan had a sword or a spear.

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One day, Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor,

"Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side."

But he did not tell his father.

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Nobody noticed Jonathan and his young armor-bearer getting out of the outpost.

They went into the Philistine outpost secretly.

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Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer,

"Let's go to the Philistines who God hates. God surely will help us.

If God is with us, it will not be a problem, no matter how many they are. We will win."

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“If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands."(I Samuel 14:9-10)

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Then Jonathan and his young armor-bearer showed themselves to the Philistines.

The Philistines said, "Come up to us and we will teach you a lesson."(I Samuel 14:12a)

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Jonathan heard their words and believed that God was with them.

They went up toward the Philistines. Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. The key was that God was with them.(I Samuel 14:14-15)

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The Bible says, in the first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men.

(I Samuel 14:14)The Philistines began to be afraid of them and then the Philistines lost their confidence to attack and started to run.

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When King Saul saw that the Philistines were running away, he, and the Hebrews that had been in hiding came out and started to pursue and attack them. That day, the Israel won the Philistines in the battle.

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This battle was won through Jonathan's faith. Although they had only 600 people, Jonathan's faith that he would win if God was with them, and his armor-bearer's faith made the Israelites win the battle.

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We who believe in Jesus should have faith all the time. We should believe in God even though we come across big troubles in our lives. I hope that you will have great faith like Jonathan and his armor-bearer.