It had been 45 years since Caleb had been in the area, but he could not forget what he had seen – a land flowing with milk and honey. He and Joshua had realized the potential, but the other 10 spies could not see past the present reality.

That present reality was a giant named Arba and his family of gigantic men. These men towered over other men and presented a formidable and seeming insurmountable obstacle to the conquest of the land. So pervasive and intimidating was Arba’s presence that the city was named after him – Kiriath-Arba. He defined the region. These giants were bad news. You can read the story in Joshua 14:6-15.

Joshua and Caleb may have battled physical giants, but today our giants take on different forms – health issues, financial difficulties, relationship ills, job stress, family crises, and many others. While our giants may not be physical they are just as intimidating. Just as Arba’s presence defined a city, so also our giants attempt to define our reality. We cannot seem to see beyond our giant.

Some 45 years after first seeing these giants, Caleb asked Joshua to give him the hill country and he would drive the giants out of the region. Eventually he did, and the Bible refers to the city “Hebron…formerly named Kiriath-Arba. The giant was a mere memory and no longer defined the reality of the region.

Truths that Define Our Reality?

Giants do NOT have to define our reality. The same motivations that allowed Caleb to succeed in removing the descendants of Arba also can help us move past our giants. What were (and are) those motivations?

1. The purpose of God.

Caleb spends the first part of his appeal to Joshua reminding him of the plan God presented them 45 years earlier when Moses sent them to spy out the land. They knew the giants were there and God knew the giants were there, but the mission was clear: God intended to move the giants out and move His people in.

God will use whatever circumstances come your way to work in your life for His purposes (Romans 8:28; Philippians 2:13). His purposes are (a) to bring glory to Himself, (b) to remake us to be more like Jesus, and (3) to work through us to reach others. Our giants are nothing more than tools that God can use to accomplish His purposes. Don’t let them intimidate you, let God grow you.

2. The presence of God.

Caleb was convinced of his success because he knew “God will be with me.”

You do not face your giants alone. While it may seem God has abandoned you, He is in front of you, behind you, beside you. He is right in the middle of your circumstances and you can be assured of His presence.

3. The promise of God.

Caleb reminded Joshua of a truth they both knew: God promised them that land, every place that their feet had trod. God did not promise that it WOULD BE theirs but that as far as He was concerned it ALREADY WAS theirs. He concluded his appeal to Joshua with the reminder, “just as the Lord said.”

The Bible promises us that with God for us, nothing can be against us; nothing separates us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, and that we ARE (not could be or will be) MORE than conquerors. (Romans 8:31-39) Hang on and let God finish His work through your circumstances. It may take years. Even though Caleb drove the giants away, it would be years later when Judah finally destroyed them for good (Judges 1:10). Give God time. He WILL bring you victory if you look to Him.

Do not let your giants define you and your reality. Let God rename your reality to match what HE IS DOING in your life.