Crunch Time

Today's the day! We step back almost 3000 years and join Jonathan in 1 Samuel 14.

The situation looks pretty desperate. Although we did expect the Philistines to come with a chariot force we were hoping to push the battle into more rugged terrain to give us an advantage but we did not expect three thousand chariots. They have at least six thousand charioteers. We haven’t been able to get an estimate on the enemy soldiers numbers – they seem to be as numerous as the sand on the seashore. The Philistines have already sent out three raiding detachments. One seems to be heading for the vicinity of Shual. The other towards Beth Horom and the third is already overlooking the valley of Zeboim. The main military strategy behind these raiding detatchments seems to be to force the main battle location into an area in which they can make full use of their chariot force. A secondary strategy seems to be to destroy our troops moral. The Philistines have been very successful. We have had a record number of desertions this past week. Our men seem to be melting into caves, thickets, rocks, pits and cisterns. By the last count we had only six hundred men left. Looking at all of those armor-clad Philistines reminds me of how poorly equipped we are. My father and I are the only ones with proper armor and swords. Everyone else is armed with gardening forks, sticks or axes. Militarily speaking we have no chance. But I believe that we will win. We have God. God always specializes in impossibilities. I believe that God will act on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few. Perhaps God is waiting for someone to take the lead. Someone to step out in faith. There is that Philistine detachment right here at the pass at Micmash. I wonder…