We think we have problems. Look at Saul’s problems. Saul had 3000 men in his standing army. The Philistines had 30 000 chariots, 6000 horseman, soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Saul is outnumbered. We can see how easy it was for him to give in to fear. 1 Samuel 13:5 (AMP) “Now the Philistines gathered to fight against Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen, and troops in multitude, like sand on the seashore”
Sometimes the problems we face in life seem overwhelming. We don’t know the way forward. We don’t know how we can cope. We don’t know how we can get up and face another day. When our problems seem overwhelming, we are tempted to give in to fear. Saul was faced with fear.
1 Samuel 13:6-7 (AMP) “When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tight situation (for their troops were hard-pressed), they hid in caves, in thickets, in cellars, and in [dry] cisterns (pits). 7 Also some of the Hebrews had crossed the [river] Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him, trembling [in fear and anticipation].”
Saul’s was losing support from his people. Instead of standing strong together against the enemy, his men are hiding in the caves, thickets, in cellars and in dry pits. Some of them just ran away. Everyone around him was responding in fear.
1 Samuel 13:15 (AMP) “Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul assembled and counted the people who were still with him, [only] about six hundred [fighting] men.”
Saul was left with 600 fighting men. The story continuous in 1 Samuel 14:6 (NLT) “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “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!”
Jonathan decides that he is going to tackle the enemy only with the help of God.
1 Samuel 14:12“Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!”
Jonathan know that God was his only hope. Remember, he left the army of 600 behind. It was only Jonathan, his armour bearer.
1 Samuel 14: 15 declares; “Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified. 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day.”
Success doesn’t come from the absence of problems; it comes from the presence of God who goes through them with us! How we respond to problems – whether great or small – will determine how successful we are in life. When difficulties seem overwhelming, the choice is ours: will you give up, or will you go through?
Isaiah 45:2-3 Amplified Bible (AMP) “I will go before you and level the mountains; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron. 3 “I will give you the treasures of darkness [the hoarded treasures] And the hidden riches of secret places, So that you may know that it is I, The Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you (Cyrus the Great) by your name.
Whether we are facing our darkest hour don’t give up. By faith, start seeing the victory God has in store for us. He will walk with you all the way to victory!
Never give up!