Faithful Brave Jonathan

1 Samuel 13:23-14:52

John 7:31-52

Psalm 109:1-31

Proverbs 15:5-7

One of my favorite Bible characters was introduced today! Jonathan!

I have always loved Jonathan's character because of how selfless and loyal he is in his friendship with David. But I did not remember these stories from before he was friends with David. While I knew Jonathan was selfless and loyal, in these stories I see Jonathan's incredible courage and faith.

He sees all of Israel trembling and hiding in fear of the Philistines, and much like David and Goliath actually, he says "well, that's dumb, let's go fight them!"

He goes up with one dude and says, this is awesome, "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few."

That means Jonathan sees a Philistine camp and knows that if God wants to hand them over God can do it with TWO PEOPLE. What! That's faith. If I've ever seen faith, that's faith right there.

And Jonathan sets up a little test to see what the will of God is, and that was kind of how they had to do things before everyone had the Holy Spirit living inside them. Like, for example, that's why people used to roll dice to figure out God's will. Anyway, he says if the Philistines say "this" we will leave but if the Philistines say "that" we will know that God has handed them over to us. And the Philistines say "that" and Jonathan and his buddy go ahead and fight them! And they win!

This is crazy. I love Jonathan's quote "nothing can hinder the Lord from saving."

The confidence and faith it takes to say that. "God can use me and I KNOW it!" So often I feel like not enough, I feel like I need more talent, more security, more relationships, more support, more I don't know! And I feel like it's me doubting myself but isn't it really me doubting God? Jonathan saw a huge battlefield and instead of looking at his own two hands and saying "I'm too small, I'm not enough." He said, boldly, "God can do it."