What are the Odds?
Whether it's a ball game we are watching, a business deal we hope to put together, a relationship we hope to begin, or just some simple event we want to occur, we like to predict the odds. We like to think we have a good handle on a given situation. We feel sure that the other team is going to win. We are certain that the other side won’t negotiate. We know the door is closed for that relationship or situation to work out the way we want. Certainly we are foolish if we don’t count the cost and assess any potential pitfalls. Yet, thankfully, our assessments can be wrong.
In what might be a dusty page in your Bible you will find one of the most encouraging stories. In 1 Samuel 14, Saul is the King of Israel. At this time the odds were against God’s people. The Philistines dominated the Israelites in these days and it seemed like nothing and no one could stop them. Jonathan, Saul's son, slipped away one day along with his armor-bearer to make a surprise raid on a Philistine garrison. Even though Jonathan was greatly outnumbered he made this statement to his comrade: “perhaps the Lord will work for us, for the Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6). And with that they commenced their attack. The raid was successful and led to a decisive victory that day for the whole nation of Israel. All because one man chose to trust God and move forward in faith.
God is not restrained to save by many or by few. When it comes to the odds, God’s involvement changes everything. When God is involved:
1. Numbers don’t determine the outcome.
On paper Jonathan would lose this battle every time. Yet, here God gives them victory. Gideon started with an army of 30,000, yet God told him he only needed 300. We think we need huge numbers to see victory. We don’t. Sometimes all you need is a handful or even just one who is willing to stand and trust God.
2. Resources don’t determine the outcome.
We typically formulate vision of what is possible by what we see available to us. As a result, we presume that God will not do things because we don’t have things. God’s resources are unlimited.
3. Ability doesn’t determine the outcome.
Much of the time, we excuse ourselves from serving God because we do not think we possess the talent to accomplish a given task. When God calls people to serve Him, it isn’t because He needs our talent. What we lack in talent the power of God is sufficient to overcome.
“The Lord is not restrained to save by many or by few.” Even the way God chose to provide salvation to the world is exactly in keeping with this statement. As Romans 5:15 reminds us that although "many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” God provided salvation through His one and only Son. If that is how we are saved, we must remember that this is how we progress through the Christian life. Let’s not be afraid to step out in faith even when the odds don’t make sense. Let’s trust God’s power instead of our own.