That Obstacle Might Be Greater and Mightier Than You, But…
I am all of five feet, three inches tall… actually 5 ft 2 ¾ of an inch, but my doctor decided against that years ago. When I walk in crowds, I have noticed that tall people don’t notice me. No, really, they don’t. I mean, I’m short, but not thaaaat short. And yet, they walk right into me – chest into my face and an entire arm swinging into my shoulder kind of not seeing me.
And apparently, they don’t feel it when they knock me out because someone has yet to look down at me and apologize.
I haven’t figured it out, but I have watched to see if other “shorties” have the same problem. And you know what? I don’t think they do. Why? Well, it seems that the tall folks say excuse me and actually glance downward in order to see everyone else. But not me though, nope, I have to fight for my space in order not to get pummeled.
One experience was at an airport. A guy was walking in my direction as I was walking in his, and if I hadn’t looked up, his whole fist would have been in my mouth. Geez… I have to fight for my space indeed with people a foot or more taller than I am.
But, you know something else? I’m glad to because it’s my space. I have “excuse me’d” to people so that they would see that from where they stand, they are invading my area. I even had the thought that if God had just allowed me to grow a couple more inches past eighth grade, I’d be just fine. Clearly that wasn’t what He had in mind for my life.
We Don’t Have to be Greater and Mightier to Win
Spiritually, though, we don’t have to prove our space to anyone. We are given the win by living smaller than our enemies. And by smaller, I don’t mean in a literal sense.
See, I was reading Deuteronomy chapter 9, and Moses instructed the children of Israel to go take land from “nations greater and mightier” than they were.
Now, who does that? Who just goes and chooses to “take” something from an entire group of people greater than them? Bigger than them? Stronger than them? God’s people, that’s who!
Notice, the scripture does not just imply that their army had more soldiers, no… it says that they were greater and mightier.
“Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven,” Deuteronomy 9:1 (NKJV)
Here’s the catch – they couldn’t do it on their own. A simple “Excuse me, we’re here to claim our space” was definitely not going to cut it.
God wanted their full trust to be in Him. Yep, so He set their sights on something they wouldn’t be able to obtain without Him. Verse 3 says,
“Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you.” Deuteronomy 9:3 (NKJV)
So, What’s the Play Call?
I know there are times in life when you feel like I did in that airport and wished you had a few more inches on the opposition. With God, that’s not necessary. He often, purposely, places desires in our hearts that prove to be too great for us to obtain on our own. That’s on purpose, He wants us to completely depend on Him for the win. Here are a few things to remember when that goal comes up “greater and mightier” than you:
- God created all this. Yes, remember that. Why be afraid of someone or something when you serve the Creator of all things? “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
- Don’t be scared. It can be hard not to be alarmed when your situation is bigger than you, but there’s no need to be afraid of what cannot defeat you. “Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them.” Deuteronomy 1:29 (NKJV)
- If God told you to do it, go get it done. The thing about going up against this “greater and mightier” enemy is that God instructed the children of Israel to go and He delivered them into their hands. “Ye shall not fear them: for the Lord your God he shall fight for you.” Deuteronomy 3:22
- What God wants for you is beyond your own desires. So many times, we set our sights on what is right in front of us when He longs to give us so much more. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
That greater and mightier thing that seems to be pushing you around, God has given you permission to overtake it! Know that when God fights your battles, you don’t have to defend your size, stature, bank account, or experience to anyone.
