Taking Back the High Ground
In any ground battle, the highest hill is the most strategic as it allows the greatest tactical advantage. Because of the visibility the high point provides, your enemy cannot surprise you or change positions without you knowing it. Having the high ground signifies dominance and control.
In I Samuel 14, Jonathan understood that Israel was in a very vulnerable position. All the odds were against them. They were vastly outnumbered. The Philistines had thirty thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and too many soldiers to count (I Samuel 13:5). On the other hand, Saul and Jonathan’s armies were dwindling. Men were running away and hiding. Their small army of three thousand had shrunk to just six hundred. One more thing…
They only had two swords. King Saul had one, and Prince Jonathan the other.
In addition, Israel was hemmed in by the rocky terrain. The Philistines held the high ground. Any attempt to improve their position required walking past two large rocks which created a natural choke point. No wonder even the bravest of men hid themselves!
Have you ever felt like you wanted to just run away? Does it seem like the odds are stacked against you? Do you feel stuck with no way out? You don’t have to accept defeat.
God loves impossible situations because He gets the most glory when He shows up.
Despite all the disadvantages, Jonathan and his armor-bearer took back the high ground, and the battle shifted in their favor. The very ground shook, and God gave Israel a glorious victory. How did this happen? What can we learn from Jonathan? We may have limits, but God does not!
Have the Right Mind
Are you ready to get out of a defensive posture? Are you ready to get back on top? The first thing you must do is change your mindset. Jonathan focused on God’s power to save instead of his enemy’s ability to destroy him.
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few. (I Samuel 14:6)
Have the Right Team
When your faith is high and your heart is in the right place, it’s important that you trust the right people. If Jonathan would have told his father he was risking his life to go after the high ground, no doubt Saul would have stopped him.
Instead, he trusted the young man who carried his armor. This young man picked up on the spirit of Jonathan and joined his faith with Jonathan’s. That agreement became the catalyst to win a great victory. “And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart” (I Samuel 14:7).
Have the Right Plan
Jonathan knew that once they passed beyond the two sharp rocks (Bozez and Seneh) there was no going back. But instead of rushing, he waited on God to confirm his next steps. He sensed that God was going to do something great. He wanted the high ground, but he had humility and trust in God. Bold faith must still be guided by wisdom.
Jonathan told his armor-bearer that if the enemy called them up to the high place, this was a sign from God that they would prevail. That is exactly what happened. “But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us” (I Samuel 14:10)
Have the Right Attitude
Even though they scaled the cliffs to ascend to the top, when they got there, they stayed low and worked together. Their right attitude toward each other and toward God allowed them to protect each other’s blind spots. They had one sword, so they acted as one man. Jonathan gave the young man their only sword instead of using it himself. They played to each other’s strengths and swiftly took the high place.
Now that you see the pattern, it’s your turn to take your high ground. After all, your God has no limits.
© 2026 Jason Sciscoe