Facing Giants
November 20-21
Facing Giants
The Philistines were standing on the mountain on one side, while Israel was standing on the mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. 1 Samuel 17:3
Sometimes in life, we can find ourselves in situations when we feel completely overwhelmed. Sometimes, whatever the practical reality of the situation, the size of the problems facing us can just seem insurmountable. The core of being overwhelmed is fear—being afraid of the unknown and lacking confidence in our abilities to deal with the unexplored and unfamiliar.
In 1 Samuel 17 we read of a time when the forces of the Philistines were arrayed before the Israelite army under King Saul. Every day, a Philistine champion named Goliath came out to taunt the Israelites by offering a one-on-one combat on a ‘winner takes all’ basis. The thing about Goliath, though, was that he was no ordinary champion. We read in verse 4 that he was nine feet tall!
When Saul became King over Israel, he certainly looked the part. We read in 1 Samuel 9:2 that he was an impressive young man who stood out among the Israelites. He was a head taller than any of the others. But even he was dwarfed by Goliath. So, when he heard Goliath’s challenge, we read that Saul, along with all the Israelites, was understandably terrified (17:11). What could Saul do in the face of such enormous, such overwhelming, circumstances?
Then, along came David. David did not allow the size of the problem to overwhelm him, instead he trusted in God and was willing to step out in faith. David did not allow the size of the problem, he looked, simply and courageously, to the greatness of his God. Armed with the weapons that he had used to protect his father’s flock, David went out to take on Goliath with these words, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
Today I feel the forces arrayed against me are just too large. One example of this that’s on my heart right now is for those of us who are holding firmly to the truths of the Bible, rather than being overwhelmed and swept away by the powerful currents of our world’s values and demands. This rope seems thinner now than ever before. But, like David facing Goliath, we would do well to focus less on the size of our own particular ‘giants’, and more on the enormity of the God we serve. Because the truth is that ‘our’ victory is actually His victory through us. And His battles are fought ‘not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty’.
Now that is a reason to shout – hallelujah!
Prayer for today: Dear God, even when we face giants in our lives help us to focus our attention away from the size of the problem but more towards the hugeness of who You are. We have won the victory and with that, there is nothing to fear. In Jesus’ name. Amen.