Don’t fear the giants

Are you afraid of the future? Does it feel like there are giants in the land of promise? What giants seem frightening to you?

The Bible tells us God already had a plan for the nation of Israel: “‘For you will cross over the Jordan and go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you will possess it and dwell in it.’” (Deuteronomy 11:31, NKJV) The only thing that could stop the Israelites from entering into a better future was their own fears.

Do you remember the two different types of reports from the spies? The fear-based report came back with these classic words: “And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, ‘The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.’” (Numbers 13:32-33, NKJV)

The faith-filled report was given by Joshua and Caleb: “‘The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, “a land which flows with milk and honey.”’” (Numbers 14:7-8, NKJV) How could two groups of people see such opposite scenarios? The majority of spies only saw obstacles, whereas Joshua and Caleb saw possibilities.

I noticed this same phenomenon while I was working as a claims adjuster for an insurance company. Every accident had so many different perspectives. We were mandated to record our conversations for quality control and coaching. Although some people lied about their details of accidents, most of them simply saw things differently. So we’d have to search for police reports or the corroboration of witnesses. It is human nature to interpret the events of our lives.

What do you see in your future? Giants or challenges that can be conquered? Don’t forget the Bible says, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Romans 8:37, NKJV) Do you really believe they saw giants? I don’t think so. To a grasshopper, everything looks like a giant. They saw themselves as weak and small.

It’s your time to see yourself as a David, a giant slayer, a conqueror, and someone who crosses over because you are a miracle.

Your friend, Paul Marc Goulet