Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 29, 2024

“the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 14:1-15.  Here is a link to this Scripture – 1 Samuel 14 NASB1995 – – Bible Gateway

I quote only the following verses.

“Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, “Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised (the Philistines);  perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few.”  …  Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor bearer behind him;  and they fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death after him.  That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armor bearer made was about twenty men within about half a furrow in an acre of land.  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.”  1 Samuel 14:6 and 13-15.

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“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.  ‘What are you, O great mountain?  Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain;  and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”’”  Zechariah 4:6-7.

The LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’  Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.

Then the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many;  bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there.  Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you;  but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”  …  The LORD said to Gideon, “I will deliver you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands;  so let all the other people go, each man to his home.”  Judges 7:2-4 and 7.

For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.


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