ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Monite Me 1, 2023

Grasshoppers and Giants נפלים

Kau Saiāniti mo e fanga he‘e

NUMBERS 13:32-33

THEY BROUGHT TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL A BAD REPORT OF THE LAND THAT THEY HAD SPIED OUT, SAYING, "THE LAND. THROUGH WHICH WE HAVE GONE TO SPY IT OUT, IS A LAND THAT DEVOURS ITS INHABITANTS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WE SAW IN IT ARE OF GREAT HEIGHT. AND THERE WE SAW THE NEPHILIM (THE SONS OF ANAK, WHO COME FROM THE NEPHILIM), AND WE SEEMED TO OURSELVES LIKE GRASSHOPPERS, AND SO WE SEEMED TO THEM."

NOMIPA 13:32-33

32 Pea na‘a nau fakaongokovi ki ha‘a ‘Isileli ‘a e fonua na‘a nau asiasi, he‘enau pehē, Ko e fonua na‘a mau ‘alu atu ai hono asiasi ko e fonua ia ‘oku ne keina ‘a e kakai ‘oku nofo ai; pea ko e kakai kotoa na‘a mau mamata ai ko e kakai lalahi. 33 Pea mau mamata ai ki he kau saiāniti ko e hako ‘o ‘Ānaki, ‘a ia ko e hako ‘o e fa‘ahinga lalahi: pea na‘a mau hā kiate kinautolu ko e fanga he‘e pē, pea pehē ‘emau hā kiate kinautolu.

Goliath may be the best-known giant of the Bible, but he was only one in a long list of herculean men. Centuries before brave-hearted David faced his foe, his fainthearted forefathers cowered before the Nephilim and sons of Anak. Nephilim means "fallen ones" and Anak is from "neck, " probably referring to either a long-necked people (i.e., giants) or a necklace-wearing tribe. The Nephilim were known in pre-Flood days as "mighty men...men of renown" (Gen. 6:4). Since the average Israelite male was probably between 5' and 5'3", the spies probably did feel "like grasshoppers" compared to them. What they failed to believe, however, was that the battle was the Lord's. He himself would fight for them.

As David fought Goliath, so the Son of David wielded his weapon against every monster, every gargantuan foe, who shackles humanity to fear and death. His empty tomb marks the burial plot of our every enemy.

Unsheathe your sword, O Lord, and lift up your shield, to fight on behalf of your people.