That’s Crazy

1 Samuel 14:7 ESV

And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.”

A young man standing before a giant. The story of Jonathan’s friend is memorable and pervasive. Yet, looking at Jonathan, I see why he and David were such fast friends. The Philistines had overrun the land. All Israel was scared and the enemy had set up fortified positions while the people of God hid. At this moment Jonathan speaks to his armor-bearer and asks him if he wants to pick a fight with the garrison of well supplied, technologically superior, Philistines, and he says yes!

“I am with you heart and soul”. Don’t even give it a second thought, I am with you 110%. This is easy to say when the goal is easy, reasonable, or not life threatening, what of when that is not true? When we are challenged to do these things “not because they are easy but because they are hard”, do we ask “how high”? Hearing his armor-bearer’s response, basically says, “We need to make this fair, no sneak attacks, lets do a frontal assault, let them choose if they want to fight hear or there, THEN we will attack!” I have to wonder if the armor-bearer started to wondering if maybe him and Jonathan were actually on the same page!

Last week I heard much about the Democratic National Convention, and was disheartened. This week I am preparing to hear much from the Republicans and am preparing to also be disheartened, call it my cynical nature. One thing I have learned in the last few months is that leadership is wanting at all levels of our society. How many of my leaders (School, Government, Church, Health…) do I trust “heart and soul” and am willing to follow in some crazy plan to give God all the glory?

Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed twenty men in the first assault. Then God decided to stop helping them and become even more personally involved. The earth started shaking. He through the invaders into a panic, drove his own people out of the holes they had hidden in, and into the battle. Routing the enemy and winning the day in dramatic fashion.

There is another place were a people is united “heart and soul” to a hopeless plan. Acts 4:32 says “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul.” A Church dedicated to each other and the commission God had given him to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. United “heart and soul” they conquered nations, established churches, and one the day. God had to step in on numerous occasions but he was with them.

Let us pray the church will be united “heart and soul” that audacious and insane plans may be dreamed and executed. That his people will be able to say to “Do all that is in your heart.” Trusting that “nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few”.

“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” -Philippians 2:13

Coram Deo