Gò0dNews for Everyone
There Are Giants
T
by Brent Goodge
welve men set out on an expedition. They knew
Are there giants in your life that tell you God’s promises
where they planned to live, but they decided to check
can’t come true? Do evil habits, unhealthy relationships,
out the neighborhood before moving in. They had
insurmountable debt, or just the weariness of life make you doubt
left a fertile river delta a year or two before. Since that time,
the Word of the One who holds all power in Heaven and Earth at
they had traversed a barren desert. Now they had finally
His disposal? (Matthew 28:18).
arrived. They were home. The area had something for everyone. There were
Like Israel, we are standing on the very borders of the promised land, the heavenly promised land (John 14:1-
mountains with ocean vistas. There were hills with
3). Read Matthew 24. The words tumble off the page as if
beautiful streams, crystal clear lakes, a winding river, and
Jesus was reading today’s headlines instead of predicting
plains seemingly designed for fields of grain. The settlers found one more thing that took them by surprise. Giants. Seriously, actual giants. Not legends. Not imagination. Real, walking, talking, literal, angry giants. After almost six weeks of exploration, the explorers returned to camp and gave their report. They told of the amazing land they had seen. They even brought back produce they had found as proof of their tales. Ten of the twelve explorers were determined to tell the rest of the travelers that the land could not be inhabited—the giants were too great to overcome. Caleb and Joshua told a different story. They didn’t argue with the report, but they disputed the conclusions. God had promised Israel that He would give them the land of Canaan, and there was no giant
a world two thousand years in advance. He said, “When
that could stand in the way of God’s promise.
you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!”
Numbers Chapter 13 and 14 are some of the saddest chapters in the Bible. God’s people refused to believe His
(Matthew 24:33). Whatever we truly believe will come true. If we believe
promises. As a result, God couldn’t keep the promises, at
the giants make it impossible to claim the Kingdom of
least not right then. Whatever each spy believed actually
Heaven, the giants will indeed keep us out. If, like Caleb
turned out to be true for themselves. The ten spies did not
and Joshua, we stand on God’s Word instead of what our
believe they could conquer Canaan, and they were right.
eyes can see, we will hear the words of Christ, “Well done,
They died the very next day (Numbers 14:36-37). Caleb and
good and faithful servant,” and we will go home.
and they were also right. It took forty years, but they stood as conquerors over the bodies of the giants (Joshua 14:6-13).
46 // July 2021
About The Author
Joshua believed God would give them the land of Canaan, Brent Goodge lives in Whitfield County and desires to walk with Jesus, whatever conditions that might lead to.
