Joshua 2:11 – When we heard of it, our hearts sank and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. (NIV)

When my oldest daughter was small, she used to enjoy watching "The Friendly Giant". Every day Friendly would say something like, "I'll pull up this little rocking chair for two more to curl up on," and Heather would grab Jimmy, her doll, and curl up in her child-sized rocking chair in front of the television, where she would be entertained by the giant's songs and stories for the next fifteen minutes. It was good to have a giant portrayed as friendly, for most of the ones in my childhood books had been evil-plotting or wicked. Perhaps Goliath, the one David killed, was the meanest, but the giant in "Jack and the Beanstalk" was right up there with his evil intentions.

Today's Scripture refers to the time Joshua sent two men into the land of giants to spy out the land. When they took shelter for the night, Rahab told the spies that her neighbours, these big giants, had heard of their God, and what they heard had caused their hearts to melt in fear. They were convinced that Joshua's God was the God in heaven.

We, too, may find that we are like the spies, facing a land of giants when circumstances in our lives seem insurmountable. But Scripture tells us that, although our hearts may melt in fear, God can turn the ferocious giants of poverty, loneliness, and illness into friendly giants when we go to Him and curl up in His presence, listen to His stories, and are soothed by His songs. All we need to do is to recognize the power of our God in heaven to take care of us in every situation.

Prayer: Dear God, thank You that You are bigger than any of the giants we face in our lives. Amen.

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About the author:

Elaine Ingalls Hogg <authorhogg@yahoo.ca>
Smiths Creek, New Brunswick, Canada
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