Exaggerated Giants, Exalted God
Fear magnifies problems, but faith magnifies promises.
Seeing Through the Wrong Lens
When the Israelites stood on the edge of the Promised Land, twelve spies went to survey the territory (Numbers 13). All twelve saw the same land. They saw its beauty, its abundance, and yes—the giants. But ten of them returned with a report soaked in fear: “We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”
How did they know what the Canaanites thought? They didn’t take a poll or interview the locals. They were spies.
What they reported wasn’t fact—it was fear.
They projected their own slave mindset onto the situation. After four centuries of bondage, they still saw themselves small, powerless, and defeated.
Exaggerating Fear, Minimizing God
Fear magnifies problems and minimizes God.
The giants became larger in their imagination than the promises of God. Their perspective distorted reality. Instead of remembering that God had split seas, drowned armies, and rained bread from heaven, they chose to define themselves by their past wounds and limitations.
That’s what fear does. It exaggerates obstacles to excuse our retreat. It convinces us that the battle is unwinnable before we even step onto the field.
A Different Spirit
But not everyone saw it that way. Caleb stood up and silenced the crowd: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (Numbers 13:30).
What made Caleb different? He wasn’t naïve—he saw the same giants. But he also saw God. He believed not in Israel’s strength, but in the faithfulness of the One who had promised. Numbers later records that Caleb had “a different spirit and followed the Lord fully” (Numbers 14:24).
Caleb’s vision wasn’t shaped by slavery—it was shaped by God’s covenant. He believed God’s word over his own fears.
Who We See vs. Who God Says
The real battle wasn’t with the giants in Canaan; it was with the image in Israel’s heart.
They saw themselves as insects when God had already called them His chosen nation, set apart to bless the world through the coming Messiah.
The same is true for us. The difference between living in fear or in faith lies in how we see ourselves versus who God says we are. Problems may be real, but God’s promises are greater.
Living with Hope
We no longer live as slaves. In Christ, we are sons and daughters, seated with Him, called to walk in His authority and love. Fear will always exaggerate the size of the problem—but faith will always magnify the greatness of God.
Caleb’s courage reminds us: giants fall not because we are strong, but because God is faithful.
Reflection