GIANTS – BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS

“Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for THEY ARE OUR BREAD…” – Numbers 14:9a”

The testimonies of Joshua and Caleb reveal to us that GIANTS ARE THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: “Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for THEY ARE OUR BREAD…” (Num. 14:9a). Here is the story in brief: God had told the Israelites that the Promised Land was rich and fertile; and had promised that this bountiful land would be theirs. When the spies who were sent in to see what the land was like reported back to Moses, they saw plenty of good reasons for entering the land, but they couldn’t stop focus­ing on their fear. As they saw, magnified, and talked about the giants in the land and the fortified cities, they virtually forgot about God’s promises of conquest. On returning with their report, ten of the men uttered four words that forever changed their destiny: “WE ARE NOT ABLE” (Num.13:31).

Praise God for Champion Caleb, who saw exactly the same land, giants and cities but declared with matchless faith: “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for WE ARE WELL ABLE to overcome it” (Num. 13:30). The difference of just ONE WORD: NOT versus WELL! WE FRAME OUR FUTURE BY OUR WORDS! Joshua saw the same giants and walled city as the other spies, and added, “…do not fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us” (Num.14:9). The giants were for breakfast. Contrast this with the perception of fear: “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were IN OUR SIGHT as GRASSHOPPERS, and so we were IN THEIR SIGHT” (Num.13:33). They saw themselves as grasshoppers before the giants, and were ultimately treaded down and wasted in the wilderness (Num.14:29-33; 32:13).

Now, think of this: Why did God require the Israelites to fight to inherit a land He had already promised to give them? Why a land of giants? When someone offers to do us a favour, we normally expect it to come on a platter of gold. God has a practice of requiring human responsibility in fulfilling His Will – not because He needs our help, but because He wants our hearts. If God did everything, we’ll be no better than zombies, unable to know or love Him. True relationship demands partnership. And that’s why He won’t always give us the easy way out. As you look out over the landscape of your own life, you may see some very real problems – the giants in the land. They aren’t living, breathing sons of Anak, but they’re a big deal: the giants of anxiety, confusion, fear, worry, health condition or financial challenge, for examples!

If He wanted to, God could remove all the giants in a jiffy; and we sometimes wish He did. We should be thankful that He rarely does. If God mysteriously removed all the challenges in our lives without our corresponding responsibility, we would never be able to demonstrate faith. That means we would live our entire lives without ever pleasing God (Heb.11:6). We would gain the Promised Land at the cost of the very thing we need most: a relationship with our Creator. God can do anything, but sometimes chooses not to. He often demands that we do “the possible” to trigger “the impossible.” In the end, what we need is faith – mustard-seed faith (Matt.17:20). That’s what it takes to embolden us to walk into the land of giants, and serve them for breakfast, trusting God to either make them smaller, or to make us bigger.

Giants are the breakfast of champions. As you align with God by Faith, whatever challenge you are facing today will be history shortly. Whatever sin binds you today, will soon bow before you. What­ever barrier, giant or opposition keeping you from realising your destiny, as you commit yourself to be wholly devoted to the Lord, fully separated to Him, allowing Him to develop in you the spirit of Caleb and Joshua, and following Him wholeheartedly, He will ultimately usher you into Victory!