Giants are nothing in the eyes of God!

15 Oct 2013 by Adeline Lum CM-

Started in August 1987, FGA Cheras in Taman Shamelin Perkasa led by Pr Robert Wong has about 200 people for the English service. Pr Stephen Tang of FGA Sungai Buloh was the speaker for the October 16 service, expounding on a timely subject of conquering the giants.

Approaching the Promised Land, Moses sent 12 leaders representing the tribes of Israel to survey the land, which was reported to be fertile in produce. However, the cities in the land were also strong and fortified, inhabited by gigantic men.

Pr Stephen shared three important lessons from this historical account.

#1 Giants are no Giants in the Eyes of the Lord

Although the Israelites did no wrong in reporting, Pr Stephen shared that the Israelites sinned because of their small view of God. God miraculously provided them manna and water for 40 years in the desert but they still did not believe that God could bring them into the Promised Land.

Not only the Israelites reported how small they were compared to the Nephilim, they also mentioned how they ‘looked the same to them.’ How could they be so sure of the Nephilim’s view on them, when they were supposed to be spies hidden from the view of the Nephilim?

Numbers 13:31-33

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Hence, they put on this ‘small’ mentality because of their ‘small’ view of God. How many of us see our challenges in life as insurmountable giants because we do not believe that God can pull us through? What is your view on God?

Small God. Big problem.

Big God. Small Problem.

Also, what we believe true about ourselves often becomes a reality. Henry Ford said, “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”

Proverbs 23:7 KJV

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

#2 Do not Murmur or Complain when God gives you a task

After hearing the bad report from the ten spies who surveyed the Promised Land, the Israelites believed in it and began to grumble against Moses and Aaron for bringing them out of Egypt. They even dreamt of returning to Egypt to die. So, God became angry at the Israelites for their lack of faith; a punishment was decreed for their disbelief, which fell on the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av, also called the ninth of Av.

Numbers 14:20-23

The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.

The ninth of Av is a significant day for the Jewish people, because it was the day many solemn events happened in the Jewish history after that, shared Pr Stephen.

Bro William Wong, heading the breaking bread ceremony

Pr Stephen shared how Napolean Bonaparte stumbled upon a darkened synagogue room, where he witnessed a group of Jewish people sobbing while reading the Torah. Napolean asked what calamity could cause such grief? He learned that they were commemorating and mourning the destruction of the First Temple built by King Solomon, the Second Temple in Jerusalem, and the Fortress of Betar that happened on the ninth of Av.

On the ninth of Av as well, the Jews were expelled from England in 1290 and expelled from Spain in 1492. World War I also began on this day, which is the forerunner of World War 2 and the Holocaust. All of these tragic events for the Jewish people happened on the very same day- ninth of Av!

Pr Stephen shared that the Jews suffered because of their sin of disbelief in God. If we do not stand with the word of God, we stand against the word of God.

#3 When God calls you into service, the only answer is “Yes Lord.”

Scouting the land was the Israelites’ job but the decision on whether they would conquer the land lies in God, shared Pr Stephen.

He shared how no one would believe that the Berlin Wall would collapse one day bringing peace and unity; people would try to escape communism in the Eastern Bloc and many died. But because many Christians believed in God and prayed fervently for God to break down the wall, the wall finally came down on 1990, setting the way of Germany reunification.

An insightful sermon, Pr Stephen’s sharing in FGA Cheras brought out an aspect of God that we seldom touched on, which is God’s awesomeness is to be feared. God's Words are powerful, everlasting, and binding. No one can go against or stand against His Word. That is why a God-fearing man is a wise man. And the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Left to right: Bro Yap Ming Fei, Bro William Wong, Pr Stephen Tang, Pr Robert Wong

And when you fear Him, there are no giants in life to fear (Psalm 112). This is the wonderful paradox of believing in God. Teach us Lord then to become God-fearing people.

Psalm 112:1-9

1 Praise the Lord. Blessed are those who fear the Lord,  who find great delight in his commands.

2 Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,  or those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely , who conduct their affairs with justice.

6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;  they will be remembered forever.

7 They will have no fear of bad news;  their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

8 Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;  in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.

9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.