S)"6 Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, 'Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.'"
1 Samuel 14:6 (NASB)
O) I love the last line of this verse, "the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few." It's such a powerful truth to remember. God is not bound by our perception of things. What we think is (un)necessary is not what He knows to be (un)necessary. But, taking notice of the earlier part of Jonathan's quote, I saw something else: blind faith! Jonathan was about to come upon 20 Philistine soldiers with only himself and his armor bearer, and he wasn't even sure that the LORD would deliver him! He said "perhaps the LORD will work for us," and just went with it because He knew that God was not restrained! There's a big difference between believing that God can do it and believing that God will do it. If Jonathan had simply said that last line, but didn't act on it, I would say he knew that God can deliver by many or by few. But, because he was acting on it, risking his life and his armor bearer's life, then I'd say that he believed God will deliver by many or by few.
A) First of all, I need to remember that promise there in the end of this verse. God is not restrained and He will deliver according to His will, not according to my circumstance. However much bigger my problem is than me, God is still bigger than the problem. So, regardless of the deficit, handicap, or disadvantage I face, He will overcome it for me according to His will, not according to my perception. The second thing I need to do is act on this belief. I already believed God can provide me with a good job, a house, and a higher education. Now I need to start believing that God will provide me with those things. Part of that decision to believe is to act on it. So when I move, I cannot worry about how impossible things seem because the LORD is not restrained.
P) Father, I will never understand all of Your ways, but I don't need to understand them to believe in them. Remind me that I don't need to know how You will deliver on a promise to believe that You will. You are faithful, You cannot lie, You are compassionate, You love me - all of this despite my guilt - because You are gracious and merciful. Holy Spirit, give me courage to act on my faith and to take my belief from the knowledge that You can to the faith of assurance that You will. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
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