God and Numbers Game

All three readings today provide fertile ground for meditation. I want to write about 1 Sam 13:19-14:15 because the story is about Jonathan. In my studies of the Old Testament the last three years there has been no character as appealing to me as Jonathan. He seems much more noble and honorable than either Saul or David, the two kings. He works against his father's interests by supporting David, yet in the end, as the successor, it is really his own interests against which he works. He does it all because he believes that David is God's choice and he loves David. That is a good man!

To see such humility in a man of such violent courage is a rare thing. No where is his faith and courage more manifest than in today's reading. While the army of Israel is "hiding in their caves" Jonathan approaches an enemy encampment. He says to his armor bearer, "if they call us up to meet them, then we know God has delivered them into our hands." That was the 'sign' in his mind. [It sounds ilke an invitation to a massacre to me.]

At stories end, Jonathan has mowed through about twenty men (the sort of thing usually reserved to movie heroes) and fear sweeps through the Philistine camp. Here, however, is the verse which caught my eye:

• For nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.

As I often say (complain?), we live in challenging times for Christians. Traditional marriage is being replaced far and wide. The UN announced its commitment to gay "marriage." NY passed it, now NJ is ready to. We also know that people who believe in traditional marriage are identified as haters.

Churches, in every denomination, seem to be shrinking and in decline. And the members are older. Those in the church are frequently less than zealous. It is probably the case that the majority of Christians do not read the Bible in a normal week. Prayer does take place, but it seems much prayer is of the request variety, rather than thanks, praise or seeking God's will. By many measures it looks, if not bleak, at least not good.

One theme of the OT is the idea that God can do great things with small groups. The David and Goliath story is the gold standard for that, but Gideon is another example. Jonathan, today, is certainly another. And there are endless other examples. God can do great things with small groups and little people. Often times, churches can get so caught up in the latest marketing craze that they give up the mission and ministry to achieve "success." I am certainly affected by that temptation. Weekly attendance can become a measure of a minister's self worth. Certainly it is a measure of something, but the focus needs to remain, first and foremost, on loving, serving, worshipping God. We cannot quit because we think our resources are insufficient. We can and must listen to God (through Scripture. prayer, and the shared wisdom of the communion of saints) in our community, even if it is only two or three.

These are words of a faithful man: For nothing can hinder God from saving by many or few. It is God who makes it happen. So whether in the majority or the minority, if we are right with God we are right. Whether in paucity or abundance, if we are used by God we have enough. The numbers are secondary. God is primary. I hope that hope rules your day.