Monday, February 22, 2010
Finding God in Life’s Battles
(I Samuel 14:7-23)
Life comes with its difficulties and daily battles. While not so dramatic as Jonathan’s battle with the Philistines, every day challenges us with Philistines of our own—problems that arise from the mundane tasks of work, family, and life in general. Interestingly, Jonathan’s example provides spiritual lessons when we face Philistines in our own lives.
Notice first that Jonathan desired God’s glory above everything else. Yesterday’s passage revealed Jonathan’s righteous indignation that the “uncircumcised” posed a threat to God’s chosen people (6). His chief concern was not glory for himself, but rather the glory of God. Motive matters in the battles of life.
Secondly, Jonathan sought God’s will regarding the situation. He didn’t just go off “half-cocked” without first seeking God’s specific will. When challenges come, we sometimes react too quickly, not seeking Heaven’s guidance in specific circumstances. Jonathan sought God’s specific will for the battle (8-10).
In addition, Jonathan acted upon God’s leading. Once God had made His will clear, Jonathan engaged the enemy with enthusiasm. Sometimes God makes His plan crystal clear, yet we hesitate to follow His leading. In effect, we second-guess God. Don’t allow the bigness of the task to deter you from God’s revealed will (11-14).
Lastly, Jonathan relied upon God’s power. God expects our obedience, and He also expects us to rely upon Him to accomplish his plan. Paul said, “We are laborers together with God” (I Cor. 3:9). We, like Jonathan, should depend ultimately upon God to empower us to win the battles of life (15-23).
