By Many or by Few

The Story

Israel was in trouble. The Philistines had an army camped in the land, and they had made sure Israel had almost no weapons. In the whole army, only King Saul and his son Jonathan had a sword or spear. Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree with about six hundred frightened men, waiting.

Jonathan got tired of waiting. Without telling his father, he said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, and let us go over unto the garrison.” Then he said something remarkable: “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.”

The Philistine outpost sat on top of a rocky cliff. Jonathan and his armor-bearer would have to climb up on their hands and feet. Jonathan suggested a sign. They would show themselves to the Philistines. If the soldiers said “wait there,” they would stay put. If they said “come up,” that would mean God had given them the victory.

The Philistines laughed. “Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing.”

So up they went. Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men. Then the ground itself began to shake. Panic spread through the whole Philistine army, and they began attacking each other. When Saul’s men saw it, they joined in, and God saved Israel that day.

Reflection