Giant Killers 2 - in the Wilderness

 

Notice when the Israelites came out of Egypt it wasn’t just an easy road to freedom. They faced the Red Sea right up front to help them see what existed within their own hearts. They walked three days into the wilderness before finding water and they complained. The problems in our lives reveal the content of our hearts. In doing so we have the opportunity to address the deeper issues of our lives that we didn’t know were there. This is the process that is part of the promise so you don’t arrive too quickly without being prepared for war.

 

Exodus 13:17-18 When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, “If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” 18 So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea. Thus the Israelites left Egypt like an army ready for battle. NLT

 

Giant killers in the wilderness are those who have come out of the world’s system. But we have more capacity than they do ability. Process turns capacity into ability.

 

Suffering reveals what’s truly inside as does success. “Money changes people,” they say. But money doesn’t change you. Money reveals you. Both success and suffering reveal what’s inside.

 

The Israelites are wandering around in the wilderness and come face to face with the opportunity to go to war but the thoughts they rehearsed were how big the giants were in the land. And truly those giants are big compared to you.  But they are small compared to God. The thoughts you rehearse will either silence capacity or awaken ability.

 

Nothing is as vexing as frustrating your identity. When who you are isn’t right, nothing you do can fix it. It’s not until you get fruitful that you will get free! Complaining is a symptom of an unfulfilled, boring life. The only way you have time to complain or gossip about someone else's life is if there is nothing happening in yours!

 

Numbers 14:1-10 Then the whole congregation lifted up their voices and cried out, and that night the people wept. 2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! 3 Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.” 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown before the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel. 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the whole congregation of Israel, “The land we passed through and explored is an exceedingly good land. 8 If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us. 9 Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!” 10 But the whole congregation threatened to stone Joshua and Caleb… ESV

 

When you discover your God-given identity and move from capacity to ability not everybody in your life will celebrate you, but God will sustain you! Joshua and Caleb later become Giant Killers in the promised land.

Giant killers are coming out of the wilderness. You were born for more than showing up at church services as often as you can fit them into your busy schedule.

 

We gather as the church to breathe in the very breath of God together in a way that we cannot alone. Out of this atmosphere we are awakened to go be the church. This atmosphere grows giant killers!