The God of breakthrough - David and Goliath

    The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, is a reminder to us of God’s ability to help us overcome impossible situations. Young David found himself in an impossible situation and chose to trust his God to fight and win on his behalf. 
    David was looking after his father’s sheep when his father sent him with food supplies to his brothers, soldiers in the army. Both the Israelite and the Philistine army were faced off in battle. However, by the time David arrived, the Philistines had an advantage. Their champion, the giant, Goliath, had sent out a challenge to the Israelites. If one of their men could fight against him and win, they would serve the Israelites. However, if Goliath won, the Israelites would serve them. 
    The Israelites were terribly afraid of Goliath and none of them were brave enough to take up Goliath’s challenge. But, when David arrived and heard about his challenge, he decided to fight against him. David was not comfortable in battle attire and decided to remain dressed as he was. Instead of using a sword, he chose to use five smooth stones and his sling. While Goliath cursed him by his gods, scorning him for his youth and inexperience, David boldly declared that he was coming against him in the name of the God of the armies of Israel. David ran towards him, struck him with one of the stones and when he fell to the ground, cut off his head with Goliath’s own sword. The Israelite army thus pursued and defeated the Philistine army.
    One of the first and most obvious things is the size of the challenger, Goliath. Immediately, Israel knew that they were at an unfair disadvantage. It would have taken many men to defeat Goliath but the challenge was for one. Sometimes, that’s how our challenge may seem to us and we know that we can’t fight against it and win. So, we can understand Israel’s fear. They could see no way of winning and Goliath used his size and his words to drive fear into their hearts. Similarly, with us, it’s not just the size of our problem but the negative words the enemy may use through others and even through ourselves to heighten the fear we feel. And when that happens, we feel discouraged and too weak to fight back. 
    Interestingly, David saw the same giant the Israelites saw. He heard the same words of intimidation but his response was different. Why? Because he knew what his God could do. God had helped him fight and kill a lion and a bear who had come to kill his sheep. Think about it. That lion and bear were just as big and intimidating as Goliath but David had watched God fight and win on his behalf then. He expected the same God to do the same in this situation now. 
    I know it can be difficult to trust God in every situation. It’s amazing how short our memory is as we face each new challenge. It’s as if we forget what God has done before in other challenging situations each time we are faced with a new one. But the same God who killed the lion and the bear was the same God who helped David defeat Goliath. The challenge may have looked different but the God was the same. 
    Sometimes we just have to change our expectation of how God will fight. When David had to fight the lion and the bear, God showed him one strategy. When he had to fight Goliath, he showed him another. Different battles, but same God, same victorious result.   
    The God of breakthrough is a God who remains the same even when our challenges might look different. God is not bold in one situation and fearful in another. That’s our attitude and response. God will always respond with confidence on our behalf because He knows who He is and what He is capable of doing. We are the ones who forget. God does not. The God of breakthrough is more than able to fight and win on our behalf time and time again. The thing is we have to learn to trust Him. He is the God of breakthrough in every situation, not just some. God is consistent and when He promises to never leave us nor fail us, He keeps His promise. 
    If you have not accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour, I encourage you to do so today. Each challenge you face may be different, but your God of breakthrough remains the same. When He says He will fight for you, He means it and will do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Be encouraged.
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