The Impossible

Doing the Impossible

By William Graves

Nothing is impossible with God on our side. If our forefathers were on the shores of Europe and wanting to go to America they were told that it was impossible. If we went back into our own modern history and looked at what some people called impossible we would still be all living on the east coast of this country in crowded conditions.

What would have happened to our forebears if they said it was impossible? With God all things are possible. We would not have our country as we know it today. Some men said it is not impossible and our country has developed to where it is today. If Wilbur and Orville Wright agreed that it was impossible, then we wouldn’t be able to fly across this country.

We can see what man has achieved in our history, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. There is no way that we can achieve this or that thing that we seek to accomplish… they say, but with God everything is possible.

Let us look at a familiar story that we have told our children for centuries…

1 Sam 17:1-11

17:1 Now, the Philistines gathered their armies together to battle, and were gathered together at Sochoh, which belongs to Judah; they encamped between Sochoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and they encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. 3 The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And a champion went out from the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, from Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

5 He had a bronze helmet on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail, and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 And he had bronze greaves on his legs and a bronze javelin between his shoulders. 7 Now the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam, and his iron spearhead weighed six hundred shekels; and a shield-bearer went before him.

8 Then he stood and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, "Why have you come out to line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and you the servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me.

9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants. But if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us." 10 And the Philistine said, "I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together." 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. NKJV

I am 6’ tall and picture a yardstick to be about 3 feet so I do not think Goliath was a beanpole. He was a big enough guy. I calculated his coat of mail weighed about 125 lbs,if it was on me it would certainly weigh me down. The spear he had was heavy it weighed about 16 lbs. and a cubit was about 18 inches, which would make him about 9’9” tall He said he defied the armies of Israel.

The children of Israel were afraid of Goliath. Who will step forward and fight with this man asked the king. They were seeing the impossible. They were looking and seeing with their eyes and the Lord was with them on their side.

Then David showed up. I picture a little fellow about 5’ 10” tall in my imagination. I imagine David weighed about 150 lbs and Goliath was about 500 lbs He heard this giant defying this Army of the Lord and he said it is possible to defeat this giant.

I see David questioning why is nobody going out to fight this heathen. They tried to give him Saul’s armor, which David refused, because he spoke to them and said,” I serve the living God and I will take my Levis and t-shirt over your armor any day. Now imagine Goliath’s reaction, to such a sight as this boy, who was coming towards him.

“Today this day you will be food for the vultures because I come against you with the God of the impossible.” I am sure that Goliath was laughing his head off at the sight of this boy facing him. Then David picked up the stone in the sling. And the sling went around and around and around and implanted itself in the giant’s head.

The impossible was done with someone who had enough courage to do the impossible with the strength of the Lord behind him.

How many times have you looked at circumstances and said it was impossible to do whatever you had to do? How many have said it is too big and unachievable for God and you to do together? This is just too monumental to accomplish. My God is able to do the impossible, if we ask for His guidance.

Have you been asked by God to do the impossible for him? A disciple is a follower of Jesus. The disciple who believes in Jesus can do the impossible for God. What will your decision be for the Lord today? Will you have the courage to say, like David did, “who is this Philistine who dares to challenge a King’s Kid?”