It’s Complicated

One Year Bible (May 13)

I Samuel 14:1-52

“It’s Complicated”

Father and son are not “on the same page”. What’s new about this you may wonder?

“It’s complicated” you may say. Well, it always is when it comes to God first, family second, and unity somewhere down the line…

The only title that I could begin to think of as a title for this story is, “It’s Complicated”. The story is complicated and confusing.

Understanding God’s leading in this story is complicated, and the relationship between father and son is beyond complicated.

Spoiler Alert! The relationship between Saul and Jonathan is just "heating up" right before our eyes, and it is going to stay in the “Complicated” category for quite a while.

Sometimes it’s going to be like that. Jesus warned his disciples, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.” (Mt. 10: 37)

What does this mean when it comes to Saul and Jonathan? What does it mean for us today?

Even in this passage, we begin to see “the pull”. Every person must determine for themselves if they will follow God, listen to him, and support his ways… no matter what the cost, and there will always be a cost.

It’s complicated.

At the beginning of this story, we see that trouble was brewing with the enemies of Israel. Sound familiar? Saul was sitting under a pomegranate tree while his son boldly takes his armor-bearer and goes down secretly and quietly to check out the enemy.

Jonathan also, by faith, trusts in the power of God to show him if they should overtake the enemy. He does not do this without putting out an inquiry of the Lord.

Look at what Jonathan says, “It may be that the Lord will work for us.” (6-7). His armor bearer replies to Jonathan, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.”

God responded to Jonathan’s faith in a remarkable way. It was God, himself, who took down the enemy. There was “trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked so that it was a very great trembling.” (v. 15)

Saul learns of how the enemy is defeating itself and he jumps into battle also and a great victory is won for the Israelites. Saul makes some foolish oaths and rules over the people involving putting curses on them. These actions lead him to cast lots and threaten to kill his own son, (Jonathan, the one who went to war for them with God’s help).

It is not Saul who rescues his son, Jonathan. It is the people who stand up and save his life.

It’s complicated.

Saul’s strength was broad but shallow. His heart had been changed but was not constant. He flaunted that he was a leader but failed to pray.

You would think Saul would have been so proud of his son, Jonathan, on a day like this, but sadly this is not the case.

The future chapters will expose the weakness of Saul. We need to keep our eyes peeled, our minds open, and our hearts ready to receive the warning signs posted for all to see…May Saul's sad descent be a lesson to us all.

Life can get complicated very quickly when God is placed in the backseat, and we only see him in the rearview mirror.