Facing Data, Slaying Giants
In the Scriptures, giants represent more than physical threats—they symbolise fear, intimidation and the seeming impossibility of God’s promises. Two striking examples appear in the stories of David, and of Joshua and Caleb, whose responses to giants provide a model for us today.
Put Your But in the Right Place
In 1 Samuel 17, David neither denied Goliath’s size nor gave in to fear. He didn’t say, “There’s no giant—y’all have a negative spirit.” He acknowledged the reality but put his but in the right place: Yes, there is a giant, and he’s big—BUT our God is bigger!
David didn’t compare himself to Goliath; he compared Goliath to God—and the big giant came up well short. He faced the challenge not with armour or bravado, but with unwavering confidence in God:
The battle is the LORD’s.”
(1 Samuel 17:47)
Earlier, in Numbers 13–14, Joshua and Caleb resisted the fearful report of the other ten spies who, through the lens of fear, viewed themselves as grasshoppers compared to the inhabitants of the land of promise (Numbers 13:33). The majority saw giants and defeat; Joshua and Caleb saw giants and opportunity.
They too put their but in the right place. Yes, the people are strong and the cities fortified—BUT the LORD is with us! Confident in His promise, they defined the challenge as fuel (Numbers 14:9)—not a reason to retreat, but their path to victory.
Facing Declining Data & Downward Trends
Likewise, when facing the declining trends and data of Christian and church growth, we need not deny the data or be intimidated by it.
We are not subject to the data. We are subject only to Jesus, the Head of the Church, Lord of the Harvest and the Dayspring of every heart. The government rests on His shoulders and of the increase of His government, there will be no end. We’re in good hands.
With our eyes fixed on Jesus, we can both humbly acknowledge the reality of the challenge and respond with wisdom and faith. We can learn from it, use it to shape our approach and fuel our faith.
To paraphrase those who have led the way, “Yes, there is a giant, and he’s big. But our God is bigger! The data is bad, but our God is good. And it’s still the goodness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4).”
