Read 1 Sam 14:1-6
The Bible is full of dualities and contrasts. Today's reading is no different. We have Jonathan sneaking over with his armor bearer to the Philistine camp while Saul is sitting down on a precipice resting under a pomegranite tree with his 600 men. The grandson Ahiah is the priest now. His name means "worshipper". His dad's name means "brother of goodness" because his dad's brother's name means "where did the glory go?" (Sounds like Cain and Abel all over again). Jonathan has to pass through this narrow place on his way to the Philistine camp. On one side of the pass is a huge sharp rock that has been named Bozez which means "surpassing white; glistening". It is pointing northward to Michmash. "Northward" means "hidden" which always has to do with the spiritual, and "Michmash" means "hidden in the memory". The other rock is "Seneh" which means "thorns", pointing southward to Gibeah. "Southward" has to do with the natural and means "parched" (without spirit). Gibeah means a "hill".
What does all this mean? We can be "safe" and sit where we can see what's coming and be shaded and comfortable. That seems like the practical way and the best one but we aren't going to kick any booty from there. Jonathan chose the "unsafe" way; undermanned, and walking straight toward the enemy. He is going to confront danger face to face. He takes his faithful armor bearer who is just as dangerous and impulsive as he is. Good choice of friends if you want to do damage to Satan's realm. They come to a place where they are faced with the Word of Blessing (Bozez) and the Word of Curses (Seneh). The blessing is holy and hidden in the memory of what God has said in his Word. The curse is set up high and leaves you dry. It is at this juncture that Jonathan makes his proclamation: "God is All Powerful so it doesn't matter if we are a few or many."
God, we want to be dangerous and do exploits! May we never use incompetent excuses but remember Jonathan and his armor bearer as our examples.
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