4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." ~I Samuel 17:4,10

The pagan champion of Gath challenged the children of Israel and their God. “Give me a man!” This is not to exclude the ladies, but the statement rang true in my heart, early on in my ministry. “Give me a man!” I could hear the strangled voice of Satan speaking these words as a sick and sadistic sarcasm dripped from each syllable, “You won’t make a stand! You’re afraid! Afraid of losing it all! Afraid you’ll be made to be the fool!”

Defeat is debilitating and sometimes even the death of you. Risk is scary. When God calls you to run to the battle and not away from it, you wonder, “Can I really win?” If God says to you, “Take all you’ve worked for, all you’ve aspired to, and all of your relational pull…, put it on the line. Trust me in this! Follow Me!” Then you ask, “Will I survive? Will I win?” Suddenly a deafening silence shatters the darkness of the night, where your fear of failure resides. You strain to hear. God does not answer.

“God did you say, go?”

“Yes!”

“Will I win?”

Perhaps the better question is, “Will He win?” That answer is always a resounding, “YES!” That IS what this is all about. Remember? To “live sent” is to “live spent”! It is to give all of me to Him! It is to recognize the everyday Jesus in everyway, including in your vocation. The devil is laughing, mocking, derisively cursing you with every breath. He brings confusion and chaos in social issues, in family life, and in your job. His desire is to “sift you as wheat”. He taunts God’s people daily, “Send me a man!”

Years ago, in a small country church, I spoke on this passage. I spent much time on Goliath’s taunt, “Give me a man!” I pointed out that God sent a boy. There WAS no man. (Hang with me ladies, God is looking for mighty women of valor too!) In this instance, God sent a shepherd boy. At the end of the message, I gave the altar call. I asked for men to stand up and be counted. I asked for men to come to the front to represent Christ in their families. I asked that the men take on the priestly garment, as head of the home. I prayed out loud before the congregation, “God! Please! Send me a man!” Something surprising happened. Not one man responded. (Many men later told me, they were waiting on someone else to respond first.) No one came forward. Suddenly, after several awkward minutes passed by, a little boy, a toddler, broke free from his mama’s hold. He scampered down to the altar, and leaped up into my arms. You could’ve heard a pin drop. I closed the service with these words, “I asked for a man. God sent a boy. You’re dismissed.”