By R.A. Mathews

It was a hopeless situation.

Imagine how it would feel if China had military control of this nation, stationing enemy troops on U.S. soil and preventing American citizens from owning weapons.

Israel was in just such a mess in roughly 1,000 B.C. Their arch-enemy, the Philistines, controlled them, stationing a garrison of soldiers in Gibeah, a city in the heart of Israel, and preventing Hebrews from owning either a sword or a spear. Here are the passages:

“… the garrison of the Philistines… was in Geba” (1 Samuel 13:3).

“Now no blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines said, ‘Otherwise the Hebrews will make swords or spears.’  So all Israel went down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plowshare, his mattock, his axe, and his hoe” (1 Samuel 13:19-20).

Although Saul, Israel’s king at that time, did not seek God, his son Jonathan walked closely with the Lord. Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison, and the war was on!

Did Israel rally behind its brave crown prince? 

No. Here’s the passage.

“Now the Philistines assembled to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen … and camped in Michmash… 

“When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble… the people kept themselves hidden in caves, in crevices, in cliffs, in crypts, and in pits. And some of the Hebrews crossed the Jordan [and fled]” (1 Samuel 13:5-7).

Scripture says Israel had only 600 trembling, unarmed men when the day of battle came. But Jonathan had a bold plan—some would call it a suicide mission. Here it is:

“Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was carrying his armor, ‘Come, and let’s cross over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side’…

“Now between the gorges by which Jonathan sought to cross over to the Philistines’ garrison there was a rocky crag on the one side, and a rocky crag on the other side… Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor… ‘Behold, we are going to cross over to the men and reveal ourselves to them. If they say to us, “Wait until we come to you”; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them. But if they say, “Come up to us,” then we will go up, for the Lord has handed them over to us” (1 Samuel 14:1-10).

The Philistines then goaded Jonathan, saying “Come up to us…”

Scripture tells us “Jonathan said to his armor bearer, ‘Come up after me, for the Lord has handed them over to Israel’” (1 Samuel 14:11-12).

Jonathan faced 36,000 enemy soldiers!  

But he knew God had guided him and trusted that the Lord could work out the details!

Here’s how this amazing event played out: 

“Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him; and the men fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer… about twenty men… And there was a trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. Even the garrison and the raiders trembled, and the earth quaked so that it became a great trembling…

“Then [King] Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and came to the battle; and behold, every [Philistine’s] sword was against his fellow Philistine, and there was very great confusion… So, the Lord saved Israel that day” (1 Samuel 14:13-22).

God gave Jonathan a miracle, unexpectedly creating a violent earthquake, sending the Philistines into such panic and confusion that they killed one another. 

The path you’re on may look as hopeless as Jonathan climbing that rocky crag on his hands and knees to face 36,000 enemy soldiers with what seemed like nothing but his armor-bearer behind him. 

But God climbed with Jonathan.

Jonathan had prayed, listened to the Lord, and knew God would do the rest. Look back. What did Jonathan say?

“The Lord has handed them over to Israel.”

Do the same.

Climb the rocky crag even with 36,000 doubters laughing at where you’re going, saying it’s impossible. “Nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). 

Pray, listen to the Lord, and know He will handle the rest.

If God wants it, God will show you the way.

The Rev. Mathews (J.D., M.Div., B.A.) is the author of the Reaching to God series which you can see at RAMathews.com. Contact her at Hello@RAMathews.com. All Scripture was taken from the NASB.

Copyright © 2025 R.A. Mathews. All rights reserved.