As a little girl I dreamt of giants in my neighborhood. I never saw the giants face to face, but I could hear the thunderous clap of their feet heading straight for my house. I remember having a feeling of trepidation and awe that such a creature could actually exist.
Recently, I looked up the meaning behind having giant dreams. One interpretation of dreaming of giants could be facing great opponents or opposition during one's lifetime. In Numbers 13 the Lord instructed Moses to send some men out to explore the land of Canaan. This land was also known as the Promised Land. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, but there were also intimidating giants in the land.
The majority of the spies that Moses sent out came back with a negative report. “But the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large. We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” (Numbers 13:28-31 NIV) These men went on to say they saw giants in the land. “We saw the Nephilim there, the descendants of Anak. We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” (Numbers 13:33 NIV)
Caleb and Joshua were the only two spies that declared, “We should go up and take possession of the land for we can certainly do it.” (Numbers 13:30 NIV) Later in Numbers 14, Moses, Aaron, Caleb and Joshua try to encourage the Israelites to believe the Lord would indeed give them this bountiful land.
“The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us he will lead us into that land a land flowing with milk and honey, and give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not be afraid of the people of the land because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.” (Numbers 14:1-9 NIV)
Application for Today
Have you ever noticed that the more people are stressed out, the more they behave in a negative fashion? Most of the men who spied out the land were overcome with fear and had a poor self-image. They saw themselves as being weak and unable to conquer the land. What they failed to understand though was the victory was not by their human power, but by God’s divine promise and provision for them to possess the land.
Don’t Be a Grumbler
The Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron. These people had no confidence that the Lord would provide for them. They were ready to throw in the towel and head back to the bondage in Egypt. Moses, Aaron, Joshua and Caleb began to plead with the Israelites not to rebel against the Lord. They also commanded them not to be afraid of the giants in the Promised Land. They declared that the Lord was with them and that they would be victorious. The Israelites responded by plotting to stone them. At this point in the story, the glory of the Lord appeared. The Lord said to Moses, “How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs? (Numbers 14:11 NIV)
The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years grumbling and complaining until they finally died. These folks had a hard heart toward the Lord. Caleb, on the other hand, had a different spirit. He was courageous and full of faith that God would surely be with them and give them the Promised Land. Caleb spoke positively, had a great attitude, and followed the Lord wholeheartedly.
Caleb was speaking for the minority and he was choosing to remain faithful even though there were giants in the land. Often times, we as Christians have to go against the majority. We have to stand up for what is right and remain steadfast in our relationship with the Lord. Even if we are the only one that stands up for what is right, we must do so.
Modern Day Giants
As I began to write down my thoughts for this teaching, I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me some of our modern day giants. These are organizations that are filled with powerful people who have great influence over our nation. These giants walk around the Promised Land ruling with an iron fist and intimidating anyone who dares to oppose them.
Many times the majority will decide an issue, but that doesn’t make the decision the right one. Here are some of the giants we have to overcome today.
· Healthcare Giants
· Insurance Giants
· Pharmaceutical Giants
· Government Giants
· Political Giants
· Educational Giants
· Corporate Giants
· Church Giants
· Ministry Giants
· Law Enforcement Giants
· Judicial Giants
· Military Giants
· False Religion Giants
· Financial Giants
Do you have a grasshopper mentality? Do you see yourself as weak, small and hopeless? Do you grumble and complain like the Israelites did? Do you have a victim mentality? How we see ourselves has a great influence on how the giants see us. If we believe that we have the divine power and provision of the Lord, we will enter into the land flowing with milk and honey. This is a land that is full of all the good things we desire.
Caleb entered the Promised Land because he chose to believe, regardless of the opposition. Failing to trust God can leave us worse off than we were when we first began. So let Caleb be our example to have a different spirit. Let us be unwavering in our faith. We are able to overcome the giants as we speak boldly and courageously that the Lord is with us. We must know the Lord is our strength.
In conclusion, we can also be our own worst enemy. Our negative attitude and unbelief may be the giant that stands in our way. We could end up just like those who wandered in the desert for 40 years. I don’t know about you, but I would rather enter the land flowing with milk and honey, then suffer death in the desert. When we see ourselves like grasshoppers and our problems like giants, we have already lost the battle. Other people will sense our self-loathing and distance themselves from us.
We must overcome the tendency to speak negatively and guard our mouths. Let us declare, like Caleb, that surely we our able to overcome the giants and enter into the Promised Land. The Lord is with us and the enemy is no longer protected. Come now and enter the land flowing with milk and honey as we overcome the giants together.