Bigger Than Any Giant

His touch instantly revealed to him the smoothness of the stones in his hands. A sharp shiver rocketed up through his spine to the base of his neck as the wave of reality of what was happening suddenly crashed into his shoreline of common sense.

He could be sitting with his harp perched on a rock out in tall grass like a marooned sailor in a sea of green surrounded by grazing sheep that looked like whitecaps in the wind blown grassy waves right now, but instead he was tasting the dirt that had blown back into his face where he had tossed it into the air to judge the wind speed in that valley.

There just several yards to his left was standing the largest human being that he had ever seen in his life.

There is no doubt that David had been prepared for this moment. His adversaries had increased in size and would continue to increase in size. It was a lion, a bear, and now a giant. It would become seven giants down the road and then entire armies. The obstacles in David's life never stopped growing and increasing, but neither did his methods and skills in handling those obstacles. It was his hands, a knife, a sling, and then an entire army of soldiers at his disposal. God equipped him in accordance with every difficulty.

I was reading this event and was again inspired by it, but this time i noticed something that I had always missed up until this point.

David's biggest obstacle that day was NOT a giant on the field.

David's biggest obstacle that day came before the giant and his obstacle was the same one that stops so many giant killers it is pathetic.

When David was stirred to challenge the obstacle of a giant he was faced with a more deadly obstacle. Eliab.

Wait a minute?

Wasn't Eliab his brother?

^"And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle."   ~ 1 Samuel 17:28

Eliabs show up before and in the middle of every challenge that you will face and their sole purpose is to keep you from taking on the giants in your path.

I am not sure why Eliab was so mad at David or tried to stop him in his purpose. It may have been because the same passion to slay the giant pulsed in Eliab's heart but he stopped short. There is no doubt that Eliab wanted that giant killed just as bad as David, but Eliab had decided long before David and his purpose showed up that the giant could not be defeated.

That is what happens to most Eliabs in life.

The first thing to do before the challenges in life that come your way is to stop for a second and survey the situation and put it into a size perspective against the God that led you to that path.

"IS MY GOD BIGGER THAN THIS CIRCUMSTANCE?"

He led you to this and He can lead you through it, and if you look back over the battlefields of your life you are going to see that your enemies have increased to this point along with your skills and methods for handling these walls.

Look at this response!!!

^"Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." ~ 1 Samuel 17:45

This is AWESOME!!!

"Dude, that's all your going to bring to fight the God of the universe? Seriously???"

His perspective was set, but it was Eliab who stood in the shadow of his giant.

Eliab stands between you and your giant and he challenges your purpose by questioning your motivations.

Listen to David's response carefully because this is the key to handling the Eliabs that each obstacle will bring.

^"And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" ~ 1 Samuel 17:29

It went back to the purpose that was placed within his heart by a God so much bigger than the obstacle that he now faced..

It seems so feeble sometimes in the shadow of a giant, but reminding yourself of what you have inside that drove you to this wall is more than enough. It seems like such a simple response doesn't it?
 Is there not a cause?

This question is so tremendously huge that it staggers the mind to really understand that was being asked then is the same question that is asked of you and I anytime an obstacle stands between where we were are and where we were made to be.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU  ARE SUPPOSED TO DO ENOUGH TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP DESPITE THE INABILITY TO SEE THE STAIRCASE?

Do you believe in what you feel you are supposed to do enough to risk a chance that others will believe in it as well?

 ^"And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner." ~ 1 Samuel 17:30

David's purpose inspired and army who were more than ready to adopt a purpose and move ahead in that purpose as well.

His touch instantly revealed to him the smoothness of the stones in his hands. A sharp shiver rocketed up through his spine to the base of his neck as the wave of reality of what was happening suddenly crashed into his shoreline of common sense.

"Giants were made to be killed." ~Scott Baker



You were made for greatness. It beats within your chest and the victories ahead far surpass the magnitude of any obstacle that seems to loom larger than life. What have you been made to do and be?

Don't allow anyone who has been stopped by the same obstacles to tell you that you are unable to defeat what you face. Your purpose is bigger than you or anyone else.

Climbing with you,
~Dan