What can we learn from Jonathan's faith in 1 Samuel 14:5? The Scene behind the Faith “ ‘One cliff stood to the north toward Michmash, and the other to the south toward Geba.’ ” (1 Samuel 14:5) Two sheer crags hem Jonathan in. From a human viewpoint there is no convenient path, no tactical advantage, and no guarantee of success. Yet Jonathan moves forward convinced that God can deliver. The geography highlights the faith: steep cliffs frame an even steeper trust in the Lord. Faith That Rises above Obstacles • Jonathan sees the cliffs yet refuses to let terrain dictate obedience. • He weighs God’s power, not the Philistines’ position. • His confidence flows from a settled conviction that the LORD acts for His people (14:6). • The passage teaches that faith does not deny danger; it confronts danger with dependence on God. Key Take-aways for Us • Obstacles often signal opportunity. Impossible terrain invites reliance on the God who “makes my feet like the feet of a deer” (Psalm 18:33). • Faith focuses on what God can do, not on what we cannot do. Compare 2 Chronicles 20:12: “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.” • Real trust moves. Jonathan did not wait for perfect conditions; he stepped out, confident God could save “by many or by few” (1 Samuel 14:6). • Courage is contagious. Jonathan’s armor-bearer mirrors his faith (14:7), illustrating how one believer’s boldness sparks another’s. Supporting Scriptures • Hebrews 11:32-34 – Jonathan fits the pattern of those “whose weakness was turned to strength.” • Psalm 20:7 – “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” • Matthew 19:26 – “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” • Isaiah 40:29-31 – The Lord “gives power to the faint… they shall mount up with wings like eagles.” Living Out Jonathan-Style Faith Today • Identify the “cliffs” in your life—places where resources are low and risks are high. • Recall past deliverances; let memory fuel present confidence (1 Samuel 7:12). • Speak faith aloud as Jonathan did (14:6); verbal confession strengthens conviction. • Step forward in obedience even when the path is steep, trusting the God who still specializes in saving “by many or by few.” |
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