I have been feeling increasingly frustrated these past
few weeks. I sense a rising anxiety in me and in God’s people, an anxiety that
causes us to hold back and keeps pushing us down, preventing us from walking
into our God-given destinies.

That anxiety stems from fear and is exactly what the Devil operates out of.
I found myself advising a friend only a few days ago to never make a decision
that stems from fear. Then the enemy has us exactly where he wants us.

How do we break out? How do we push forward? I came across a story in 1
Samuel 14 this week. In my Bible, it was entitled ‘Jonathan’s Daring Plan’.
That was enough to grab my attention.

Let me remind you of the story: Jonathan, Saul’s son had just defeated a
Philistine garrison at Geba. The Philistines, enraged by their defeat, amassed
thousands of chariots and charioteers and now encamped at Micmash ready to pick
a massive fight. The Bible says there was as many warriors as grains of sand on
the seashore and it understandably sent everyone into a panic. The men of
Israel either ran away or hid. Saul was running out of options and instead of
waiting for the prophet Samuel as he had been instructed, he took it upon
himself to sacrifice the burnt offering. The result was the end of his kingdom
as prophesied by Samuel. God had found another man, one after His own heart who
would take his place. So Saul was left with only 600 men and none of them
except for himself and his son owned a spear.

Saul and his men set-up camp, I don’t know how long for but long enough it
seems for Jonathan to get fed up. He tells his armor-bearer, ‘Come on, let’s go
over to where the Philistines have their outpost’. He didn’t tell his father
what he was doing and I am not surprised. He would have quickly been talked out
of it. In fact no-one noticed they were gone. I suspect they were too busy
praying and asking God what to do next. There is mention of Ahijah the priest
being present, and he was wearing the ephod that was used by the Israelites to
ask God questions and receive direction.

Jonathan and his armor-bearer had to go down between two rocky cliffs, where
it was a certainty the enemy would see them. He made up a plan that if the
Philistines told them to stay where they were, they would stop and go back.
However, if the Philistines were to challenge them to come up and fight,
Jonathan would take this as a sign that God would help them to defeat the
Philistines. Sure enough, they received the challenge and up they climbed.
Having to use both hands and feet to scramble to the top, they were in a very
vulnerable position and suddenly they found themselves with Philistines in
front of them and Philistines behind. We are told that those in front literally
fell at Jonathan’s feet whilst the armor-bearer killed those who came behind.
Twenty men in all were killed and it sent the whole army into a panic. Never
mind the earthquake that quickly ensued and terrified them all.

What I love most about Jonathan is that he didn’t stay in the camp. I have
this image of him starting to pace the ground, sighing out of frustration and
clenching his fists. A stark contrast to the others around him who were likely
panicking and beseeching God for help. I wonder does it sound familiar…There
are so many of us who have been camped out for too long, twiddling our thumbs,
wondering if God is in this and praying for a sign that does not seem to be
forthcoming. Our endless waiting wearies us and we become despondent. We dress
up our fear in religion; telling ourselves it is more important to have a sign
from God instead of stepping out in faith. Jonathan grabs the bull by the
horns. He makes up his own plan and comes up with his own sign for God to
answer. I mean, you know he was just itching for a fight. He couldn’t have made
it more obvious by parading himself in front of the Philistines! Jonathan knew
exactly who he was and what he was there for. Friends, know this: we are in a
battle and it is high time we stepped onto the battlefield instead of hiding in
the thickets. We won’t always know the specifics in advance, we won’t always
have the strategy. We might even just need to make it up as we go along and
trust that God will meet us on the way.

Saul realises what has happened but still in his fear, he starts calling to
Ahijah to bring the ephod first to seek God. His voice is drowned out by the
chaos and confusion coming from the Philistine camp, ‘Never mind,’ he says,
‘Let’s get going!’

At last!

There is a lesson in this for us: there are going to be times ahead where
you don’t even have time to ask for a sign. You just need to go. My prayer is
that when those times come that God will give you an armor-bearer. Or that you
will be that armor-bearer for someone else. That someone, who can say, ‘Do what
you think is best, I’m with you completely whatever you decide.’ Those two men
took down twenty and it didn’t stop there.

I love what happened next. It wasn’t only Saul and his men who rushed out
into battle to join them, but there were Hebrews who had defected to the
Philistine camp who then returned and joined in with their own people and there
were those who had gone into hiding, who came out of their caves and joined the
chase.

Do not underestimate your choices and the impact they will have. That is
what the enemy is trying to do by keeping you in your cave. Jonathan was
willing to take a risk, ‘Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder
the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!’ He
knew the God that he served, but did he know that his one act of faith would
give courage and inspire many back into the battle?

My dear friends, these are days where much courage and boldness is needed.
You have no idea of the impact you can make. You can be the one. The one to
challenge, to speak up, to jump onto the battlefield. You can be the one or you
can hold the hand of the one; go with them, be willing to stand alongside them
and whisper in their ear all the encouragement they need to keep going.

Together with the One for whom nothing is impossible, we have all we need to
take down the enemy.

Are you up for it? Are you ready? Can I suggest, it is time to stop twiddling your thumbs, time to get up off your knees and time to put feet to your faith.