As the story unfolds, Jonathan and his armor bearer have left their camp and gone to the foot of the cliff that this city is built upon. Jonathan tells his armor bearer,
“Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
“Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”
This morning that story came upon me so poignantly that I gasped and almost cried. I had to turn to that story right away and read again what Jonathan and his armor bearer said, “Nothing can hinder God.” Wow! The faith of two men moved mountains, just as Jesus said would happen. I wonder if He was thinking of Jonathan and his armor bearer when He said it.
And that's the cool thing about the entire Bible. It can be summed up as Hebrews does, “by faith Abel..., by faith Enoch..., by faith Noah...” and several others who are mentioned in the Hebrews 11 Faith Hall of Fame.
But there were others that Hebrews talks about in 11:36-40:
But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.
And just like it was for them, God has something better in mind for us than what we live now and what we see now and this better is for the here and now. One of the best verses in the Old Testament is Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
God Almighty has plans for us!
WOW!
Plans for each of us!
Ponder THAT!
Thank You, Father for loving us so much!