Facing the Giants.

Deuteronomy.

The book begins with God's instructions to the Israelites to enter into the Promised Land. But entering into an unfamiliar place is scary. So the people gathered a company of spies to scout out the land and return to the group with information. The spies come back frightened, and report that there are giants in the land.

And the fearful Israelites recoil, refusing to enter into the land that God has promised to provide for them.

It's easy for me to condemn the Israelites. Fearful. Cowardly. God promised his people a land flowing with milk and honey. He promised to go before them in battle. But when the Israelites heard that there were giants, they refused to follow His lead.

But when I'm really honest with myself, I realize that I don't even care to mention how much I am like the Israelites. And I shirk away from God's commands at things far less threatening than giants. I fear awkward moments and the mean things people will think of me. I fear rejection and I fear failure. I fear pain and I fear loneliness, but never in my life have I been justified in my fear. I've never faced a giant....but even if I had, I wouldn't have faced him alone.

God promised to go before the Israelites. They wouldn't have been alone in facing the giants either. But to God's awesome offer of victory in battle and a fertile land to call their own, the Israelites said "We're too afraid." In response God sentenced them to wander for 40 years in the desert before he would once again deliver the Promised Land into their hands.

When they became aware of what they had lost in being fearful, many of the Israelites decided they'd suck it up...they'd be brave and take the land, but it was too late. God informed them that He was no longer willing to bring them victory. It was as though he called down from Heaven, "It's too late. I'm not going with you this time." Because they didn't trust, the Israelites lost 40 years of opportunity, 40 years of the Promised Land.

I am so guilty of the same lack of trust that the Israelites infamously exhibit in Deuteronomy. God is all powerful. I know that. God goes before me when I walk in his will. I know that. And I am never alone, for He has promised to be with me to the end of the age. I know that. But I allow irrational fear to rule my life.

However, I differ from the Israelites in one important respect. I don't always know what I've missed out on when I fail to trust completely in Christ. The Israelites were painfully aware that they would wander in the desert for 40 years to pay for their lack of faith, but often when my faith fails me, I continue through my day...never even stoping to think of what I've lost. But I do know that I pay a price for disobedience and faithlessness. Perhaps it's friendships that I've lost because I wan't bold enough to start a conversation, or maybe it's opportunities that I failed to grasp as they passed me by. But more often than not, I think that refusing to trust erodes some of the strength of my relationship with Jesus.

And that's too high a price to pay for feelings of comfort and security. So I'll affirm my faith in Christ. In Him, I can do all things. I'm ready to trust. I'm ready to face the Giants.