Today we read how Saul and his son Jonathan took different approaches to battle. Saul planned his attack, started executing his plan and when his plan started falling apart he turned to God for help. Jonathan on the other hand, looked for God’s favor and will first and then went to battle, even with a far lesser scale of a plan and much less resources. Together with his faithful armor-bearer, Jonathan approached the enemies looking for a sign from God if two of them should go to battle alone. And when God revealed His direction to them to do so, Jonathan and armor-bearer obeyed and attacked: two against an army as numerous as the sand.
God did a miracle through their faith and obedience. They were only two men and though they did manage to overcome many soldiers, God completed the rest of the battle on their behalf (just as Jonathan had faith that God would.) God defeated the enemy camp by spreading confusion among its soldiers and the battle was won.
So in our life are we more like Saul here or Jonathan? Do we first go headstrong into making life's decisions (especially when we have a lot of knowledge and resources) and pray to God to help us only when things go wrong? Or do we first pray to God to reveal His will and guidance in everything and then follow? I know I’m way more of a Saul in this respect! But again, God is challenging us to live differently: to seek His Will first and obey. And His promise, as always, is too generous and too beautiful, His power too mighty:
“Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few." (1 Samuel 14:6)
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