Article February 9, 1957 Issue

THERE WERE GIANTS IN THE LAND

EARL ALBERT RUSSELL

As the children of Israel neared the promised land, scouts were sent ahead to ascertain if it was safe to continue the journey along the route previously determined. Caleb and Joshua, who were members of this group, returned with the assurance that it was possible to continue as planned; but others disagreed and warned against continuance that way. They reported (Num. 13:33), "We saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."

A dictionary defines "giant" as "a person, animal, plant, or thing of extraordinary size or power." Anything which assumes gigantic proportions to one is a giant to him. What appears as a giant need not necessarily be gigantic in physical size; neither does what is deemed a giant assume gigantic proportions to another.

For example, Goliath had attained such gigantic proportions to the army of Israel and to their king, Saul, that for forty days, although Goliath taunted and defied them to send a man to fight against him, no one was willing to go. When David arrived on the scene, he immediately volunteered to accept the challenge and fight the braggart. The record implies not the slightest apprehension on David's part.

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