1 Samuel 14:18-23: a reflection

18Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring God’s ark here.” For God’s ark was with the children of Israel at that time. 19While Saul talked to the priest, the tumult that was in the camp of the Philistines went on and increased; and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand!” 20Saul and all the people who were with him were gathered together, and came to the battle; and behold, they were all striking each other with their swords in very great confusion. 21Now the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before and who went up with them into the camp from all around, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23So the LORD saved Israel that day; and the battle passed over by Beth Aven.

In the midst of a battle against the Philistines, confusion breaks out in the enemy camp; they strike one another in panic. The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines turn to join Israel, and those who had hidden themselves come out to pursue; and the tide turns entirely. And the account sums it up plainly: So the LORD saved Israel that day. The victory was not chiefly the achievement of Israel's strategy or strength; it was God's saving work, accomplished through circumstances Israel did not control, the confusion in the enemy camp, the turning of the defectors, the emerging of the hidden.

Notice how the account credits the victory: the LORD saved Israel. It was God who saved them that day, working through circumstances beyond Israel's control: the panic in the enemy camp, the change of heart in the defectors, the return of those who had hidden. Israel fought, but the victory was God's doing, accomplished through means they did not arrange or control. The saving was God's, worked out through the turning of circumstances that were in his hand, not theirs. It was the LORD who saved.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can credit our deliverances to our own strategy or strength, forgetting that it is God who saves. When we come through some trouble or danger, we can attribute it to our own efforts, our own cleverness; but often, as at this battle, the deliverance is God's work, accomplished through circumstances we did not control. Remember, when you are delivered, that it is God who saves, working often through circumstances beyond your control, as the LORD saved Israel through the confusion in the enemy camp. Do not credit your deliverances only to your own strength or strategy; it is God who saves, working through means you did not arrange. Trust the God who saves, and who can work your deliverance through circumstances you do not control, as the LORD saved Israel that day through a confusion in the enemy camp that Israel did not create; for salvation is his work, not merely the achievement of our own strength.

Lord, in the midst of a battle against the Philistines, confusion breaks out in the enemy camp; they strike one another in panic. The Hebrews who had been with the Philistines turn to join Israel, and those who had hidden themselves come out to pursue; and the tide turns entirely. And the account sums it up plainly: so the LORD saved Israel that day. The victory was not chiefly the achievement of Israel's strategy or strength; it was your saving work, accomplished through circumstances Israel did not control. Show me how the account credits the victory: the LORD saved Israel. It was you who saved them that day, working through circumstances beyond Israel's control: the panic in the enemy camp, the change of heart in the defectors, the return of those who had hidden. Israel fought, but the victory was your doing. The saving was yours, worked out through the turning of circumstances that were in your hand, not theirs. Take that to my heart, for I can credit my deliverances to my own strategy or strength, forgetting that it is you who save. When I come through some trouble or danger, I can attribute it to my own efforts; but often the deliverance is your work, accomplished through circumstances I did not control. Help me remember, when I am delivered, that it is you who save, working through circumstances beyond my control. Keep me from crediting my deliverances only to my own strength; it is you who save. Help me trust the God who saves, Lord, and who can work my deliverance through circumstances I do not control.