What role does faith play in confronting "Og king of Bashan" in our lives? Setting the Stage: Who Was Og? • Og was the last of the Rephaim giants (Deuteronomy 3:11). • His iron bed measured about thirteen feet long—his very size was meant to intimidate. • Israel met him after defeating Sihon; this final hurdle blocked the way into the Promised Land (Numbers 21:33). • God recorded the story so we would know how He deals with seemingly invincible enemies—then and now (Romans 15:4). The Key Verse “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land.” (Numbers 21:34) What “Og” Looks Like Today • An entrenched sin pattern that feels bigger than you. • A spiritual stronghold in family or culture. • A medical, financial, or relational crisis towering over your resources. • Any challenge that shouts, “You’re too small, God won’t come through.” Faith Steps Out Before the Battle 1. Faith hears God’s Word first. – God spoke before Israel swung a sword (Numbers 21:34). – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) 2. Faith rejects fear immediately. – “Do not fear him.” The command is the antidote to paralysis. – “The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?” (Psalm 27:1) 3. Faith receives victory as already settled. – “I have delivered him”—past tense while Og still breathed. – “This is the victory that has overcome the world: our faith.” (1 John 5:4) 4. Faith moves in obedient action. – Israel advanced, “struck him down, leaving no survivors” (Numbers 21:35). – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” (James 1:22) God’s Track Record Builds Confidence • He toppled Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12). • He split the sea (Exodus 14:21-22). • He fed manna forty years (Deuteronomy 8:3). • He already crushed Sihon (Numbers 21:24). Remembering past faithfulness fuels present courage. Practical Ways to Exercise Faith Against Your “Og” • Identify the giant: name the issue honestly before God. • Anchor in Scripture: memorize Numbers 21:34 and repeat it when fear whispers. • Recall past deliverances: keep a written list of God’s previous answers. • Speak faith aloud: declare what God has said, not what circumstances say. • Act in obedience: take the next righteous step even if the outcome looks impossible. • Stand in community: enlist believers who will reinforce God’s promise, not your fear (Hebrews 10:24-25). Scripture Echoes of Og’s Defeat • Deuteronomy 3:3 – “So the LORD our God also delivered Og king of Bashan.” • Psalm 136:20-21 – “And Og king of Bashan, for His loving devotion endures forever; and gave their land as an inheritance.” • Ephesians 6:10-11 – “Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God.” These passages confirm that the same God who conquered literal giants empowers us to conquer spiritual ones. Closing Takeaway Faith is the God-given lens that sees Og already fallen, fear already silenced, and victory already handed over. Hear the Word, believe it, step forward, and watch the giant collapse under the weight of God’s promise. |
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