I was reading the story of David and Goliath. It’s a story I've read and taught a zillion times. It’s the same old, same old – David sees the giant, he picks five stones, he flings one stone at Goliath and the giant came tumbling down. The end.
Only this time when I read it, I looked a bit deeper in to the story. I began questioning the story – David had faith. He knew that the battle belonged to the Lord. He had faith. Faith enough to walk up to a 10 foot giant without an armor. And everybody who tells this story focuses on just that. Could we, for but one moment think about why David picked FIVE stones? He knew God was on his side. He knew he’d kill the giant. He knew it. So with confidence, he bent down and picked up one stone. He turns to walk away to face the giant. Suddenly he stops. Thinks for a bit – what if one stone is not enough? What if he needs to fling another stone? What if he needs to fling more than just two stones? What if that doesn't kill the giant? And he bends down and picks FIVE stones. And it makes me think – David needed just one stone. David wanted just one stone. So were the other FOUR stones his back up if things didn't go the way they were meant to? If the answer is yes, then where is faith?
And I look in to my own life and look at the giants that stand before me – giants of uncertainty, giants of fear – and I look around at what I want. I look around for what I need. And instead of picking up just one stone… the one stone that will put my giant to rest, I look around. I look for a way out. I look for ‘options’. What if things don’t go the way they’re supposed to? What if….? And I go looking for more stones. I have a backup plan. And I ask myself – where is faith?
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” ~ Hebrews 11:1
Faith – It has no backup plans!
