What Is The Size Of Your Giant?
“When Saul and the Israelites heard this, they were terrified and deeply shaken.” [1 Samuel 17:11]
Have you ever seen a giant? I’m not sure I have, but I have seen some very tall men who seemed like giants. I remember attending my first professional basketball game and was honored to be able to get down all the way to courtside. When I saw the size of the players, I thought they were giants! I felt so small in comparison.
I have faced many other types of “giants” in my life, and I’m guessing you have too. I remember when my dad was diagnosed with cancer – that was a giant-sized diagnosis. Then my sister received a similar report from her doctor. I was terrified. These were giants and it seemed as though I had no weapon big enough with which to fight.
The above text gives us a glimpse into a literal and figurative problem the Israelites faced. Before them stood a literal giant from an enemy country who towered over the soldiers. Day after day, he taunted the Israelite army. “Send me a man who will fight me!”, called out the giant. Not only were the soldiers terrified, but so was King Saul. The giant figuratively represented the “evil” the Israelites faced. How were they going to win that battle? They had no one to stand up to this giant…so they thought!
God was willing to fight on their behalf, but the Israelites forgot to call on the one who was able to deliver them. Therefore, God provided a small shepherd boy, David, to stand up to this giant. David was adept at fighting with a slingshot, but the giant carried a spear and shield that weighed more than the shepherd boy. However, David knew something about fighting big obstacles: The size of the giant didn’t matter, only the size of his God. David knew that God was bigger, stronger, and greater than any giant – literal or figurative.
What about you? Are you focused on the size of your obstacle? Does it seem overwhelming? Has it left you feeling terrified and deeply shaken?
May I remind you, today, that God is bigger! He is greater! He is stronger! Stop focusing on the size of the giant in front of you and start focusing on the size of the God beside you!
How big is your God?
