Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few

Our pastor, Pastor Jerome S. Ocampo, once shared a sermon about this verse, 1 Samuel 14:6: "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." Jonathan said this to his armor-bearer. His dad Saul was resting under a tree, right in the middle of a war with the Philistines. The Israelite army, for some foolish reason, decided to have their swords and weapons sharpened by Philistine blacksmiths. Only Saul and Jonathan had swords. But Jonathan, without his dad's knowledge, went to see the Philistines' encampments. Then he told his young armor-bearer,

"Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said. "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."

In the following verses you will read that Jonathan and his armor-bearer were able to kill twenty Philistines, and God sent a panic among the Philistines. 1 Samuel 14:23 says, "So the LORD rescued Israel that day, and the battle moved on beyond Beth Aven."

I will never forget what our pastor shared that day. Sometimes we think that what we do is too small, or insignificant. We forget that it is the Lord who saves, it is the Lord who acts. God will save, and nothing can hinder Him. In Isaiah 46:10 God says,

"I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

God's purpose is to save, and He will save whether by many or by few. God asks you: This is My purpose. Are you in or are you out? He will save. Will you participate with Him?

Jonathan didn't rescue Israel, God did. Through Jonathan and his armor-bearer.

One person can make a difference. Even the world with its godless humanism says this. But two persons participating with God in His purposes can save a nation, like Jonathan and his armor-bearer did.

Even one person participating with God can save a nation. Esther was one person who made a difference by participating with God. At first she feared for her life. But Mordecai sent a message to her:

"Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"(Esther 4:13-14)

God would have saved Israel through someone else had Esther chickened out. It wasn't all on her shoulders. But she chose to risk her life for God's people. And she risked it not just once, but twice. And through her the Jews were saved from annihilation.

So it's not all about us. It's all about God. And obedience to His heart. All because we love Him. Because He first loved us.