Giant Steps

Is there more of a manly story in scripture than David and Goliath? Warriors, amour, trash talking giants etc… it’s a story guys can get into. Is there a better story of perfect faith and courage in scripture? Now that’s where we guys get a little intimidated. It’s easy to believe that men need to be flawless in faith and courage to do anything for God but that’s not the case.

Is there more of a manly story in scripture than David and Goliath? Warriors, amour, trash talking giants etc… it’s a story guys can get into. Is there a better story of perfect faith and courage in scripture? Now that’s where we guys get a little intimidated. It’s easy to believe that men need to be flawless in faith and courage to do anything for God but that’s not the case.
I can relate to the portion of the passage where it says this about the Israelite army, “He reached the camp as the army was going out to its battle positions, shouting the war cry.” 1 Samuel 17:20. I would have loved to hear that war cry. I played soccer in college and just before the start of each game our team captain led us in a chant that sounded very intimidating, although I never knew what it meant. I did know that the pressure was now on to back it up on the field. No room to come up small once you do a war cry. The Israelite army had the same pressure but they were all bark but no bite.
I get moved and motivated about many different issues in my life and ministry but often times that’s all that happens. When the time comes to do something, I seem to shrink back. It’s safe to assume that David had just as much fear as his fellow countrymen and brothers. So what was the difference that allowed him to face the Giant in his life? He knew something needed to be done and wasn’t willing to watch and wait for others to do it. He did not ignore that inner prompting from God. He didn’t just wait for it to pass so that he could go back to his sheep. This intentional leadership that David possessed was not without fear but in spite of it. He knew from his days protecting the sheep that God shows up big when we first step out despite the fear and ask Him to do something big. That type of leadership is more inspiring than a war cry! The most important thing is that David realized where his true power comes from, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty,” 1 Samuel 17:45.
Admit it guys, our own families is the toughest place to lead sometimes. Being the spiritual leader in the home is intimidating. Why is that? We feel inadequate and overwhelmed but that’s where God wants us because we realize we need God big time. David, like the rest of us felt inadequate on his own but didn’t let those feelings stop him and God showed up. God is bigger than my inadequacies so when the Giant appears do all the war cries you want but make sure you face the Giant.