The Israelites had a long history of conflict with the Philistines. They became so used to the years of oppression that when they stood up to fight back, they fled at the first sign of trouble (1 Samuel 13). Most saw only in the natural, that they were outnumbered, surrounded by their enemies and overwhelming odds, and failed to see the presence of God: the very God who heard their cry, saw their plight, and promised deliverance from their very situation (1 Samuel 9:16). 

Here we find Jonathan, son of the king and close confidant of the man after God’s own heart. While everyone else was hiding in holes and fleeing back to the bondage they came from, Jonathan was rising up and looking for an opportunity, a sign and confirmation that the promised deliverance was at hand. Jonathan was so attuned to the presence of God that he knew exactly what to look for, exactly the sign that victory through the Lord was just over the hill.

In Luke 12, Jesus cries out "Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?" Let this not be our own hole, our own trap: that we become so caught up in our present circumstances, so used to seeing our current surroundings, signs that we know so well to interpret as misery, defeat, and disappointment, that we develop spiritual amnesia and spiritual blindness. We forget about our Genesis 50:20, all the times He was good, all the times He was faithful: When the stroke, the heart attack, the diagnosis was supposed to mean death but now the doctors are bewildered at the signs of new life. When the loss of a relationship, a loved one, a home, finances was supposed to be the end and we kicked the chair but He broke the noose and freed our chains, we swallowed the pills and drank the bottle but He spat them out and cleansed us, we ran to throw ourselves into the waves but He caught us and called us by name. When suicide and premature death struck and we desperately wondered why, when we cried out in anguish and anger and He came, wiped away our tears, held us and said “I AM”. When divorce was at marriage’s door and the world expected bitterness and resentment but the Lord brought restoration and reconciliation, when the world expected broken families and broken children but God raised up the next generation of couples small group leaders and KidPak.

We can become so attuned to the patterns of this world, culture, memes, politics, current events, Instagram, TikTok, that we go through the motions of morning devotions, church, small group, worship night, evening prayers, fasting, and tithing without knowing and completely blind to His presence. Let us instead be like Jonathan: so attuned to the Shepherd’s voice (John 10), so desperately trusting and waiting for a move of God that when the time comes we stand up at the ready, and in standing with the Lord we encourage those around us, our armor-bearers, and even a nation to rise up in God’s victory.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your constant presence in our lives. Help us to be attuned to Your voice, even in the face of uncertainty and fear. Like Jonathan, may we trust in Your guidance and wait for Your divine confirmation. Remove the distractions that cloud our vision and restore our confidence in Your promises. Strengthen our faith to step forward when You call, knowing that You go before us in victory. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Reflect on past moments where God has been faithful. Write them down as a reminder of His goodness. Then, spend intentional time in prayer and worship, asking the Holy Spirit to renew your awareness of His voice and guidance. Be ready to step out in faith when He calls.