“Whether by Many or Few”
Could You Be the Catalyst Others Are Waiting For?
Pastor’s Perspective, Stevens County Times,
July 2025
By Pastor Tim White
The Bible and human history are filled with accounts of great struggles and conflicts between rival nations and cultures. Rising from within these conflicts are the heroes who rallied their people to rise above their fear and join them in an eventual triumph over their enemies. One such story is about Jonathan, the son of Israel’s first King, Saul, in 1 Samuel, chapter 14.
The Philistines (in current-day Gaza) had oppressed the Israelite people for years, and at this moment in history, they had taken all weapons from Israel except for Jonathan and his father, the king. Imagine what they had left to fight with: rakes, shovels, hoes, staffs, and rods. Not a very hopeful situation for the Hebrews as they struggled under the subjugation of their enemy. Israel needed a hero, and King Saul was not doing so well at the time.
Let me interject words from the prophet Hanani, spoken many years later to another king of Judah, that are very enlightening to this and many other stories of faith. The prophet declared: “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chron. 16:9a).
Don’t miss this: God is looking to strengthen and enable those in difficult times who have fully committed their hearts and lives to Him. Wholly devoting our hearts to the Lord is the first step in confronting life’s challenges, trials, and the enemies of the Truth.
Too often, people face a difficult time and call on God to rescue them from the situation, only to return to their old way of living afterward. If you are facing a battle, ensure that you have fully surrendered your heart and life to Christ before proceeding further. Jesus’ substitutionary sacrifice on the cross was not so that the Father could be our handyman and lifeguard, but to give us “the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
In 1 Samuel 14, Jonathan had found a Philistine outpost (like a lookout) and turned to his armor-bearer and spoke the words of someone entirely devoted to God and convinced of His power:
“Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Sam. 14:6)
What incredible confidence he had in what they could accomplish as they trusted in the LORD! His faith made him fearless. Repeat those words to yourself: “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.” Notice who is the primary focus of his words – not his strength or talents, but the Lord’s power and might.
A point of interest is that most Israelites at this time were hiding in caves and lamenting about how large their enemy was, but Jonathan looked to his armor-bearer in words of faith about how great their God was. We should do the latter, as well.
His armor-bearer’s response, “Go ahead, I am with you heart and soul.” Here is another crucial element when we are living in challenging times – find those who are “with you heart and soul” and let the others be (they may come around later). For Jonathan, he was not looking for a consensus or a majority; he was looking for a fully devoted, faith-filled partner, whether many or few.
Next, Jonathan devised a way to determine if the LORD was going to give these Philistines into their hands – and that was, “If they say ‘Come up to us,’ we will climb up because that will be the sign that the LORD has given them into our hands” (v.10). Sounds crazy to me. Still, he was speaking from a place of faith that God would hear him and guide their next step. And the LORD came through.
Sure enough, the Philistines did call these two to come up to them so they could “teach them a lesson.” However, the so-called “teachers” quickly became the “students” as Jonathan and his armor-bearer, standing back to back, “schooled” them in the art of battle, and killed about twenty of them in an area of about half an acre (vv. 13-14). But that was just the beginning.
Now, let’s not miss the following two things that happen. First, as they stepped forward in faith, God Himself was at work. Verse 15 states: “Then panic struck the whole army…and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God” (v. 15). This work of God is like the working of the Holy Spirit today. The Spirit of God is the one who works with us to convict of sin and awaken hearts, etc., working where you and I cannot. So, come, Holy Spirit, we need You.
Second, as King Saul got news of the chaos happening across the valley in the Philistine camp, and realizing that his son and partner were the ones wreaking havoc on their enemy, instantly, the cowardly hearts of the Israelites changed – “they joined the battle in hot pursuit” of the very ones they had feared (v. 20-23). And God gave them a great victory over their enemy that day, because one man’s complete devotion to his God had silenced the lies of the enemy and driven out any fear of man.
Today, our nation is facing an enemy of a different kind from the one Jonathan faced. We have an entire political party, most of the media, higher education, and some denominations that embrace the society-destroying, atheistic principles of Socialism, which is responsible for over one hundred million deaths in the 20th century. America and its allies fought to defeat Socialism in World War II, so how can we sit back and put our heads down now?
Space does not permit further detail, but of this I am certain: Our nation needs Churches filled with Jonathans and armor-bearers right about now. The principles revealed above, rooted in his faith, should encourage, guide, and propel us today. And as we act by faith, the Lord will work with us, and we may be the catalyst for others to come out of their caves and join the battle for souls.
May our faith in God be so complete that it chases out all fear and every doubt about what could be (on personal and societal levels), and then lead us strategically forward as the Salt and Light we are to be in this world, because we too are convinced that “Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or few.”