MULTIPLICATION BY FAITH
Faith helps a person to look at circumstances very differently from those around. It helps see what cannot be seen.
In Israel’s history, when we examine the story of Jonathan, son of King Saul, what stands out is his remarkable faith, something which his father lacked. In 1Samuel 13, we read how the Philistines had gathered in the many thousands to attack Israel causing King Saul and the entire nation to cower in fear. Saul ended up with barely 600 men and practically no weapons. All hope was lost and they dreadfully awaited the foregone conclusion of defeat. Yet Jonathan was able to see things very differently. In 1Samuel 14, we read this account,
6 Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
7 “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”…..
13 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.
15 Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God………
23 So on that day the Lord saved Israel, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven.
While the entire nation of Israel, saw the huge army of the enemy and lost all hope, Jonathan was able to see what God could do for them. But belief alone would not suffice. Belief needed to give way to action that proved his belief. And that is what he did. After confirming that it was indeed God’s will, taking just his armor-bearer with him, he relied on God to help them attack an outpost despite being heavily outnumbered. When faith helps you see what cannot be naturally seen, leading to belief that God can work beyond natural limitations and when that belief is translated to real action in accordance with the will of God, multiplication by faith becomes a reality.
From defeating an outpost, with faith being unleashed on this situation, God worked on the behalf of the Israelites and they ended up routing the enemy, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. The realm of the miraculous belongs to those who have learnt to consistently multiply by faith.
2 thoughts on “MULTIPLICATION BY FAITH”
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Brother,
Thank you for the article.
Please permit me to ask the following. (Sorry for the lengthy text from me).
“Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. PERHAPS the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.””
Jonathan does not seem to be sure of
A) whether God was certainly going to grant him victory ,
And,
B) whether that was THAT SPECIFIC STEP (of attacking the enemies by himself and his servant) God wanted him to take… (I mean it’s not clearly mentioned in the text from the Bible).
But God granted victory in defeating the enemies that day to Jonathan.
Q.1). Did God grant victory to Jonathan because he had the GENERAL KNOWLEDGE of God that God could do impossible things , (OR) because God allowed him to KNOW SPECIFICALLY that He was going to grant Jonathan victory at that particular point of time?
We as Christians keep facing similar situations on a daily basis.
2).Does the Bible expect that we, in our daily lives take steps in the face of various problems , take steps knowing that God is GENERALLY CAPABLE of solving problems in our lives, or, that God is GOING TO solve that particular problem FOR SURE then and there??
Does God grant a solution for our problems then??
Praveen,
Thanks for the interesting question.
In this case Jonathan moved from a general knowledge that God could grant him a victory to specific knowledge that it would happen when the test he lays before God is answered favorably. He tells his armor bearer, “But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the Lord has given them into our hands.” (v10)
A similar pattern is seen in our lives. Faith in God is only confirmed when we move forward in faith even if it is only a general knowledge, but as we move forward, the spiritual input will become more specific, confirming the miraculous work of God to come.