Against Impossible Odds

UV 1678/10000 Against Impossible Odds
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: 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 Samuel 14 v 6

The Lord is not restrained by numbers. Jonathan had confidence in the Lord to confront an entire garrison of the Philistines single-handed, accompanied by only his armour bearer. He affirmed with his mouth the faith of his heart as we should all do: “ the Lord will work for us.” Jonathan had perhaps been influenced and inspired by the great victory he had seen his bosom friend David win as a very young man against the formidable uncircumcised Philistine champion and giant fighter, Goliath. Faith is a great force multiplier. Faith should be accompanied by the courage to act on one’s belief. By this means, he was able to overcome the entire garrison of soldiers. Jonathan like Gideon set a “test of the fleece” by telling his armour bearer that if the guards asked them to come over to them it is a sign that the Lord was going to enable them to overcome the entire camp. The soldiers as anticipated asked them to come over to their post and offered no resistance. Thereafter, the multitude of soldiers just melted away in the face of his faith and courage.

The Lord does not play favourites but He does make a distinction between those who know, acknowledge, trust and love Him and those who do none of this- the so called “ uncircumcised “ of heart as St Paul puts. When our hearts are dedicated to the Lord, our lives will be blessed. The opposition cannot resist our advance. The Lord can work with many or by few. Our strategies and actions may be against conventional wisdom and advice.

In our professions and business, we will all feel a certain spiritual impulse to act against all conventional logic and wisdom. We should look for some signs of the Lord’s favour or grace acting on our behalf and go ahead boldly. The Lord is ready to act big time and real time on our behalf. The battle has to be first won in the spiritual realm. The physical, intellectual, emotional and social triumphs will follow the spiritual victory. Indeed, with God nothing is impossible and if He be for us, it will be of no avail for anyone to be against us. He will help and enable us to overcome impossible odds of numbers and circumstances.

Prateep V Philip