The earliest biblical history spoke of “giants” in the land. These are not giants as we perceive them from fairy tales. They are real. Flesh and blood. Tremendous size, equaled only by their evil and rebellious ways. Many scholars have debated the origin of these giants, but I feel what the bible says on this is true.
Genesis 6 explains that there was an unholy union between heavenly beings (fallen angels) with human daughters on earth. This union was to corrupt the divine seed of woman. In verse 5 it states, “The lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was only for evil.” This evil would always contend with man to keep him from entering into God’s promises. Giants and those that followed them worked to sow fear and discord wherever they reigned. Numbers, chapter 13, tells the story of the twelve men sent to spy out the land that Israel was to inherit and to see whether the land was good or bad; to investigate the inhabitants of the land and see if they were weak or strong; and to bring back fruit of the land. Ten of the men sent out came back with a bad report. They were overcome with fear. Only Caleb and Joshua believed they could go in and take the land. The fear and doubt from the ten who saw only giants affected all the tribes of Israel. They said they saw the descendants of Anak and they were like grasshoppers in their sight. The same people who had seen great miracles were now on their knees before a spirit of fear and unbelief. God then spoke a harsh word. These same people who had been delivered from years of oppression would wander and die in the desert. The ten spies who came back with an evil report died immediately by a plague before the Lord.
Israel eventually had to go into the land promised to them and dispossess the giants and those who followed them. These giants were deeply entrenched in the land. Comfortable in the rule of their domain. Deuteronomy, chapter 3, tells of Og, king of Bashan, a giant of impressive power whose bed was nine cubits in length and four cubits wide. That’s 13.5 feet long by 6 feet wide. It’s not just the size, but the fact that this bed was set up in his residence in the midst of Bashan speaks to how comfortable he was in his area of rule. Why would he fear any man? But the Lord told Israel that he would give them every place the soles of their feet tread. Have no fear. The Lord would put the dread of them wherever they go to take their inheritance. Their part was to walk in obedience and believe. If you take an honest assessment of where we are today, we should recognize that these same giants have caused us to lose so many promises by following that which is contrary to Him.
1 Samuel 17 tells of David’s exploits against Goliath, a giant and champion warrior for the Philistines who stood over 9 feet tall. David came to battle this giant with 5 smooth stones and in the strength of the Lord. David showed no fear and ran toward the giant. He felled him with one stone and then cut off Goliath’s head. We often fight against some evil and are content with a minor victory. But, to be thorough, you must cut off the head. Kill the thought pattern that seeks to control and destroy. The Passion Translation of Ephesians 6:12-13 states, “Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms. For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.” This is a spiritual battle. Wherever we cede territory, even in our thoughts, giants of confusion take root. Giants of old may be gone, but the spiritual force that brought them into existence is alive and working overtime today. It is alive in those who are proud and arrogant, unloving, unforgiving, boastful, brutal, despisers of good, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. They may even have a form of godliness, but are absent of the truth of His power. We are to turn from these people. Where you see hate, racism, division, lies, deceit, false promises and teachings that use a platform espousing God for profit, and lovers of self and those who resort to demagoguery to achieve power, this is where you see the spirit that dwells within the heart and mind of those giants still alive.
Modern history speaks of people who are or were giants among men. Those who did great exploits. The founders of our constitution and those who made great advances in technology and medicine. Those who came together and brought our country to victory in World War 2. Those who overcame great obstacles in life yet persevered. Those who fought injustice for civil rights for years and today still must fight. Men like John Lewis. Diminutive in stature, but a giant in strength and character. A man who nearly died from a fractured skull during a peaceful protest in Selma, Alabama, but walked in forgiveness and spoke of working to see and bring God’s Kingdom here on earth. Working to see civil rights that were eventually passed but still must be fought for. So many of those who fought this good fight are gone. The new Joshua generation for civil rights must stand and take up the mantle. Do not fear today’s giants nor the evil emanating from those who walk contrary to Christ. Take a stand. Do not let this spirit reside in your midst. Even if this wrong spirit comes from a religious source, reject it! Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. If you’ve accepted Christ, he resides in you. If that’s true for you, then contradictory truth cannot live within you. That spirit has no place. We are not to be anxious for anything. Trust in Him. Get right before Him. He will lead and guide you into truth.
In Part 2 of this post, I will talk further about the pitfalls and effects of allowing the spirit that birthed the giants to dwell in us and the effects of partnering with those tribes the Lord said to dispossess. I leave you with the words of John Lewis. This man didn’t fall to giants. Look and see with spiritual eyes to what is still before us. He said, “Get in the way. Get in good trouble.” Standing in the path of the spirit of Goliath is getting in the way. You may cause a ruckus by standing up, but it will be good trouble. Tear down those altars and monuments that extol evil. Fight the good fight.
Walk in His wisdom. May His peace rule your heart. Blessings.
Stand My Watch 