Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-30

 

When Your God is Big Enough

The Philistines were an intimidating people.  They had a strong military and had defeated Israel on numerous occasions.  Truth be told, the Israelites, were terrified of this army and its soldiers.  And now, the Philistines “rub salt in the wound” by sending forward one of their greatest warriors. This giant of a man, nearly ten feet tall stepped out from the Philistine line into the open, Goliath from Gath. He had a bronze helmet on his head and was dressed in armor—126 pounds of it! He wore bronze shin guards and carried a bronze sword. His spear was like a fence rail—the spear tip alone weighed over fifteen pounds. His shield bearer walked ahead of him.

Goliath issued a defiant challenge to Israel, “Send out a man to battle with me. Let us fight it out together!”  The Israelites, to a man, fell back the moment they saw the giant—totally frightened.  Except one.

David, the shepherd boy from Bethlehem arrived that day to hear the arrogance and defiance of Goliath and the Philistines.  David was blown away that this man openly and defiantly challenged Israel, which he saw as a challenge of Israel’s God.  To speak like this to God’s people was something David just could not comprehend.

Why was David not afraid like the rest of the Israelites?  Because he saw how big his God was and knew in his heart that this defiant Philistine was no match for the God of Gods and Lord of Lords.  Yes, Goliath was big.  But David’s God was bigger.  David wasn't intimidated by this Philistine Giant because David’s God was big enough!

Whenever we face big problems in life, it is so important to remember that our God is bigger than our problem.  It has been said that “the difficulty of any task is always measured by the agent doing the work.”  If your “agent” is puny and weak, the task will always look insurmountable.  But if your “agent” is God, then every challenge pales in comparison to His unlimited power and resources.  David’s God was big enough to conquer this defiant Philistine.  

Is your God big enough to conquer your problem?