Back in the early days of Saul being king, battle lines were drawn. The Philistines controlled the western border of Israel. Saul was happy enough lounging on the sidelines, but Jonathan wanted to get at that front line: ‘Come, let’s go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side’ (v. 1 NIV). Jonathan and his armour bearer were the only ones keen to go, so the odds didn’t look fantastic. But when we make a move that’s motivated by God’s glory, it moves the heart and hand of God. What it requires is a step of faith. And often it’s the longest, hardest, and scariest step we’ve ever taken. Usually when Israel’s kings went into battle, it was because they’d got a word from the Lord telling them they’d win. Jonathan hadn’t heard anything like that. He just said, ‘Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf.’ Most people operate out of the opposite mentality: ‘Perhaps the Lord won’t act in our behalf.’ They let fear drive their decisions instead of faith. So they end up like Saul, lounging on the sidelines. But God wants us in a place where we know who He is, and that He’ll back us if we step out in faith. So our ‘why should I bother?’ becomes ‘well, why not try?’ And how did the battle end up for Jonathan and his armour bearer? ‘So the Lord rescued Israel that day’ (v. 23 NIV). All it took was one daring risk. That’s all it ever takes. When we move, knowing God’s heart, God will move on our behalf. And if we don’t move, we’ll always wonder ‘what if?’ Our longest, saddest regrets are our inaction regrets – the things we would’ve, could’ve, or should’ve done, but just didn’t do.
