Saul chose for himself three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in the mountains of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the people he sent away, every man to his tent. And Jonathan attacked the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, “Let the Hebrews hear!” 1 Samuel 13:1-2
Jonathan, King Saul’s son, was a warrior just like his father, and he fought battles alongside of Saul by leading his father’s army. Fighting in battles could have also been a preparation for Jonathan as the successor to the crown. Jonathan was the first-born of King Saul which meant he would have had the right to the throne after Saul’s passing. However, God was not pleased with Saul due to his rebellion towards Him and chose to take the kingdom away from him.
Now the Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons.” 1 Samuel 16:1
This was not only going to be the end of King Saul’s monarchy, but it was also going to be the end of his dynasty! Jonathan lost the opportunity to the crown because of Saul’s disobedience!
The blessing of obedience and the curse of disobedience are not just limited to our own lives, but they affect the generations to come. That’s why it’s important to think long and hard before we run into disobedience and set things into motion that can cause a great regret later on.
We need to cut off the generational curses in our lives passed down from our parents/grandparents and begin the line of blessing because of our new inheritance in Christ. As we commit to walking with God, we choose to pass down a heritage of faith and life to our children and stop the death and destruction that was passed down to us.
Jonathan the prince lost the opportunity to the crown, but the scripture does not mention any resentment or bitterness towards his father and his father’s disobedience. He did not act like/ live like a victim.
Our lives may be different because of other people’s sin, but we can trust God that He still has something special for us in store in spite of what has happened to us in the past.
Jonathan couldn’t change his father’s past actions and neither can we change the past. However, we have a choice to feel victimized and stay stuck or keep looking to God for what He has ahead. Praise God for His grace that allowed Jonathan to stay in tune with the will of God rather than his own earthly/natural desires!
Lord, today we forgive those whose sin affected our lives. Free us from the consequence/bondage of their sins and reverse it in the name of Jesus. Purify our hearts. We declare that nothing can thwart the plan and the purpose of God in our lives! We look to you Lord the author and the finisher of our faith. Amen!