Momma Bear

Read:  1 Samuel 17:20-50

My daughter Katie lovingly nicknamed me Momma Bear. She, her Dad and I have spent countless hours together hiking, places like the Hocking Hills in Ohio to the Great Smokey Mountains in Tennessee.  

One summer while in the Smokey Mountains, we decided to hike along a less traveled portion of the Appalachian trail. 

It was beautiful!   The large trees, the pink Mountain Laurel wildflowers in full bloom, the majestic mountains all around us, the sound of the fresh mountain air sweeping through the trees.  We were drinking it all in. 

We were still on high alert at every step, because at the head of the path, there was a sign that said, “Bear Alert.” After walking quit a distance, we peered ahead a few hundred feet, we could see a heap of something on the path.  As we drew closer, each of us with our hiking sticks in hand, my husband announced, “That is bear scat.”   

From that moment forward, I no longer let Katie hike behind us.  I insisted that she ALWAYS be tucked between her dad and I as we hiked, her dad in front and I in the back.  

Katie always knows I have her back!  She learned by observing me over the years, that though I am often quiet and laid back, mess with my kids, and Momma Bear will come out with full force.  

That is what I see in this story about David and Goliath.  While David was a simple shepherd boy, with no battle experience, no formidable demeanor, an immature body, he was on high alert as he listened to what Goliath and the Israelites were saying that day. 

Goliath had been shouting day after day, “This day I defy the armies of Israel!” 

When you hear the voice of the enemy mocking you, what do you hear?  

Do you hear him say like David’s brother, “Who do you think you are?  Look at you, you are nothing!” 

Do you try to armor up with other peoples weapons and think, “This is not for me.  I am too weak.”

Do you hear the voice of the giant saying, “You are too small, too insignificant, I will crush you!” 

What David heard was, “You are mocking Israel, the children of the LIVING GOD!”  

He remembered who this LIVING GOD was, the One who had entrusted his father’s precious flocks into his care.  He trusted that His God would do the same against this giant.

When you hear the voice of your giant mocking you, let the “Momma Bear” instinct rise up in you.  That giant DARE NOT defy the precious child of the LIVING GOD!  He’s got your back.  He is the Mighty One, the One NO ONE can overpower!  

“No Power of Hell, No Scheme of Man,

Can Ever Pluck Me From His Hand!”

Don’t tell your God how big your giant is!  Go tell your giant how BIG YOUR GOD IS!