When Giants Threaten

Nearly everyone, it seems, is familiar with the story of David and Goliath.  Goliath was literally a giant of a man who hated the Israelites.  During this time David was just a young boy.  He had been tending his father’s sheep for most of his young life.

Even in his youth we become aware that David had a strong faith in God.  I love the story of David and Goliath because it reminds me that the only requirement for being used mightily by God is to have a willing and obedient heart.  God does not demand we reach a certain age or hold a specific educational degree or be raised in a particular family or born in a mighty nation.  While mankind may look at these outward appearances and be impressed, God always looks at the heart.

God was looking at David’s heart when Goliath was taunting the Israelites to come and fight him.  “If you win,” Goliath would shout, “we Philistines will be your slaves!”  Obviously, Goliath never thought for a moment that the Israelites had any hope of beating him.  Sadly, the Israelites didn’t believe they could beat him, either.

There they were, trained soldiers.  They had engaged in many battles, and yet, they found themselves paralyzed in fear.  They could not bring themselves to approach this seemingly insurmountable giant.

Then David arrives on the scene.  Not for one moment did he believe that it was impossible to defeat Goliath.  After urging the king to give him a chance, David approached the giant.  We know the outcome of the story.  David, equipped with only a slingshot and a stone, killed the giant by sinking the stone into his forehead.  The battle was won in an instant.

Why could the entire army of Israel not enter this battle?  Why did David have the victory?  We know the answer.  It was because of his faith in his God, but where did David get his faith?  What’s more, how can we acquire such faith?  There’s an interesting and revealing verse in I Samuel 17: 37.  David is talking with the king when he says, “The Lord who has saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine.”

You see, David had never known God to fail; therefore, he never believed He would.  Filled with the knowledge that God had never failed him, he stepped forward into an impossible situation and watched God perform a miracle through him.

Have you or I ever seen God fail?  Haven’t we known his blessings time and time again?  Why would we dare to think there might come a time or a situation in which God might not be there to be our everything to get us through anything?  Is anything too hard for God?  Is He unable at any time to be our courage and our wisdom or to fill us with His peace and His guidance?

There are many giants of trouble and despair in our lives, but is even one too big for our mighty God?