DEUTERONOMY 3:16

     "But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead down to the Arnon gorge and out to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites."

     Okay, this might sound like a boring verse. "So what if God gave certain territories to certain tribes?", we might ask.  Well, it was a little more involved than that. God promised the land to these people, but in order to possess the land, they had to battle the giants living in most of the territories. The Israelites were ordinary people - not particularly tall - not particularly short - average.   But the Bible describes the inhabitants of these lands as very powerful and tall.  Giants.  The Ammonites were descendants of the Rephaites - giants. 


     Ella Ewing was 8 feet 4 inches tall.  Photo courtesy of http://www.stevequayle.com/
     Imagine a giant 2 to 3 feet TALLER than her!   Intimidating, to say the least...

     Looking back just a few verses, Deuternomy 3:11 states that Og, King of Bashan was so big that his bed measured 13 feet tall and six feet wide!  Now, I', thinkin' that the Israelites were more than justified in being nervous about fighting a battle with these people...
     BUT, God said, "Do not be afraid; I will hand them over to you - the entire army and the land."  The Israelites obeyed God  (there's that pesky obedience word again!).  And, they won the battle.  Battles have a way of being won when the Lord is on your side.
     What if they had disobeyed? What if they had given in to fear?
     Are you, perhaps, missing a blessing because of fear?  Or are you missing God's best because you avoid conflicts on God's behalf?  How can you gather the spoils of war if you are unwilling to fight the battle?
     Enlarge your territory!  If life hands you illness or disability, allow the slowing of your physical self to create a richer spiritual self - the plunder of spiritual warfare could be a life you never knew was available.  For a financial setback,, allow God to do His mighty work in your life so that you can tell others of His power - the spoils of spiritual battle.  Surrender any small defeats in your life and He will make you a mighty warrior.
     What battle are you fighting today?  Are you trying to fight it alone?  God will help.  Ask Him to help and He will.  Even if your problem seems to be a giant.