Facing the Giant, Part 3

Eliab stood alongside his brothers, trying to ignore the same threat he had heard day in and day out, for forty days.

Ever since the first day, men had been trying to abandon the army. Some had even succeeded, but now the penalty for deserting was worse then listening to Goliath's speech. Eliab and his brothers didn't go to the front lines to hear the daily challenge. Very few Israelites did anymore. Most of them stood just outside their tents and watched the giant, themselves included. Some men hid in their tents, but at least the desertions had decreased.

Eliab stood close to the tent. For some reason, the flimsy fabric offered comfort, like it could be a refuge from anything outside.

Thump, thump, thump. The sound of someone running. Eliab turned, prepared to chase down a deserter, and froze.

David! David's here?

David ran up to him, and Eliab caught him, slowing him down. "Did you hear that?"

Not even a hello. "What?"

"That foolish, uncircumcised Philistine. How dare he defy the armies of God!"

Ah, yes. My kid brother wants to see a fight. He sighed. For a moment he had been so happy to see his brother.... "He's done the same speech twice a day, for forty days. I could probably quote it by memory now."

David's brow furrowed. He dropped the satchels down, not even bothering to tell them what was inside, or why he was here. After realizing David was here, Eliab's two other brothers talked with David happily.

More of the camp was active now. Goliath had left the valley, his morning challenge complete, and the Israelite men felt free to move again without feeling like the eyes of Goliath watched them clearly from so far away.

Suddenly, David's arm shot out to a soldier passing by them. "Who was that speaking in the valley?"

The soldier looked surprised, but answered anyways. "He has come to defy Israel. The king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches, will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel."

David bobbled his dark head, and the soldier moved on, but David stopped another man. "What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"

The man answered the same way as the first, but Eliab couldn't hear them speaking anymore. He was furious with David. He wants to fight! He wants to be apart of the action! Poking at all of these men because no one has been brave enough to fight him. Well, I won't let him. He is my kid brother, and I will not stand for this.

He roared at his younger brother. "Why did you come here, David? Who is taking care of the sheep? They were your responsibility, but instead, you've come gallivanting to the battle field to see a battle. Presumptuous and evil motives. You have been here five minutes, yet you think you can fight the giant? Don't be badgering the men who have been here serving in Yahweh's army! Go home. You will not watch this battle." He huffed in and out, until his heart rate evened out some.

David glared at him. "What have I done now? It was just a question." He kicked one of the satchels to Eliab. "Father sent me to bring these for you, as well as a gift for your commander." Then turning away from Eliab, David stopped another man passing by, and asked him the same question as earlier.

Eliab was no less satisfied with David's reason for being here. The boy wanted in on the action, and wouldn't stop until he saw some.

Based on 1 Samuel 17:21-30

Whenever I've read this chapter as a whole, it's always bothered me that Eliab was so mean to David. It always made me feel like who is really the one being presumptuous? David was sent here on purpose. He didn't just come for no reason.

I also think it irritated him that David was basically asking why no one had bothered to destroy this giant who was cursing their God? Why were they standing for it? I think it struck a nerve with Eliab.

We can learn from Eliab's response. Do we ever respond this way? Have you ever gone to a friend, someone who is a really strong believer in Jesus, with a problem you are having. The two of you sit at the kitchen table, and you pour your heart out all over the place. The problem, how you feel about it, and how you just don't know what to do. You stop, sniffle, and wait for their response. Then all they say is, "Trust God! I will be praying for you!" They give you a verse, hug, and prayer, but inside you aren't satisfied. Actually, your furious! After all that, the best they can do is give you a dry response?

Eliab saw this huge problem! David had been there for ten seconds, but his heart response was, "Yup, God's the answer!"

Are we like David, or are we like Eliab? Do we just trust God because we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that no matter how big the giant, God is capable of bringing him down one way or another? Or do we presume the person's motives are evil? Do we lash out at them because our own faith in God wasn't strong enough to face the giant?

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12

Have you made Jesus your Lord and Savior? Have you put your faith in Him? Do you believe all that He can do all that He says He can do? Or do you just say it? If you confess with your lips, then believe with your heart.

"I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13

Do you believe that God is capable of taking down the giants? Or do you get upset with the people who do? I want to learn from Eliab. I want to learn to watch my heart, and believe what I confess. And that's that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

V. Joy Palmer


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