Giants

Our son Jared is a big guy.  He towers over me, and is taller than all of his brothers and sisters.  It's a rare occasion that he can look someone in the eye to have a conversation.  I think of him as a gentle giant.


The giants referred to in the Old Testament weren't so gentle.   Og the king of Bashan came out against God's people as they began to conquer the land on the wilderness side of the Jordan, and God said "Do not fear him, for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hand."


Do not fear him.  This implies Og was someone to fear.  His bed (or coffin) was huge - 13.5 feet by 6 feet!  He ruled over not one, not 10, but 60 cities.  He was big and powerful and someone to fear, but the Lord said to Moses, "Do not fear him."

Og's Bed

God had given Og into the hand of Moses.  He was a defeated enemy, even before he knew it. 

 You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.’ ~Deuteronomy 3:22 

The Lord would fight the battle!  The men of valour would also fight the battle.


The men of valour weren't sitting at home by the campfire sipping tea. They were warriors, armed and ready to fight, to conquer the enemy that God had determined must die.  
God commanded them to cross over armed and occupy the land.  


He said He was going to fight for them, but they had to do their part.  


If you read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy 3, you'll see Moses' testimony. 

"We struck him down."

"We took all his cities."

This is another clear picture of God's sovereignty and man's responsibility.  God has a purpose and a plan that can never be thwarted.  He carries out His will.  

But here's the rub:  He uses ordinary men and women to accomplish His purposes.  Moses wasn't bragging when he said "we struck him down."  He wasn't taking credit for the Lord's work when he made the point that they obeyed God completely, taking ALL Og's cities.

Notice how the Psalmist praises God for defeating Og:

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;

sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,

Israel as his own possession.

For I know that the LORD is great,

and that our Lord is above all gods.

Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps.

He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,

who makes lightnings for the rain

and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

both of man and of beast;

who in your midst, O Egypt,

sent signs and wonders

against Pharaoh and all his servants;

who struck down many nations

and killed mighty kings,

Sihon, king of the Amorites,

and Og, king of Bashan,

and all the kingdoms of Canaan,

and gave their land as a heritage,

a heritage to his people Israel.

             Psalm 135:3-12

The next Psalm lists the ways God's steadfast love endures forever, including how He does great wonders, made the heavens, made the great lights, struck down the firstborn of Egypt, brought Israel out, divided the Red Sea in two, overthrew Pharaoh , led his people through the wilderness, struck down great kings, and killed mighty kings like Sihon & Og, and gave their land as a heritage to Israel his servant.

This God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He's the same God who remembers us in our low estate, and rescues us from our foes.  He cares for us every day, giving us everything we need.  

               

   

Give thanks to the God of heaven, 

for his steadfast love endures forever.

Got any giants you need to kill?  God will fight for you!

Do you have any problems you need to solve?  God will lead you through!

Are there enemies plaguing you today?  God will rescue you!

Kill those giants!  Solve those problems.  Fight those enemies.  But do it all to the glory of God, trusting that He is working in all things for His own glory and for the good of His people.

Give thanks!   

His love endures.