“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. 1 Samuel 14:6 (NLT)
Last night we were having a discussion about God opening doors for us to walk through. Sometimes, it is clear that a door has opened in answer to prayer. It is totally obvious so you walk through it.
Sometimes however, it is not so clear. Maybe the door opened only a crack. Or maybe when the door opened, it didn't look like what you prayed for so you don't know if God opened it or not. What do you do then?
When Jonathan was walking to the Philistine camp, it feels like he was going up to the door and jiggling the handle. There was definitely a door there but he wasn't sure if God was behind it so he said "Perhaps the Lord will help us." and he came up with a test.
The test was that if they said If you come up here we'll kill you, the door was closed. If they said Come up and fight, the door was open. In my mind that is a crazy test but then again, God's plans are always crazy.
Jonathan jiggled the handle, got the answer and went through the door. That day in battle he killed 20 Philistines. But what happened next was amazing. The army began to panic. They turned on each other and started fighting. Eventually, the Israelites won the battle.
Jonathan jiggled the handle of the door he was facing and it opened. He didn't really know what it was going to look like but he stepped in anyway. God didn't expect him to take care of the entire army. He expected him to take a step of faith and God would do the real work.
Isn't it the same with us? Often we stare at a door thinking we have to do everything on the other side but that is not what God wants. He wants us to trust him, step out in faith and leave the fighting to him. Perhaps if we do this, the Lord will help us like he did Jonathan.