“But mostly it’s about…”

In August, our grandson Desmond turned 16 years old. I assure you, that’s a bit mind-blowing to his grandparents. With that said, this milestone tugged me back to one of my favorite Desmond moments from eleven years prior. The lesson worked then, and it works now…

It was just about bedtime, but Desmond had a specific hankering for a little cereal to wrap up his day. He sat beside me and wrestled the elusive flakes onto his spoon while I pored over my notes and my Bible in preparation for a devotional I was giving.

At one point I looked at Desmond and asked if he knew who the Bible was teaching us about. His five-year-old reflexes took over, and without a moment of thought he said, “Jesus.” But then I could see the wheels turning. Curiosity, courage, and adventure overrode the reflex…and within a few seconds he amended his answer: “But mostly it’s about Goliath.”

This from the boy who rids our house—and his—of bad guys. This from the little warrior who aspires to various levels of superhero status. This from the boy who understands that Goliath is everywhere.

Yes, to Desmond, the story is mostly about Goliath…because it’s Goliath who launches David into irrational courage. It’s Goliath who supplies the storyline for the ultimate come-from-behind underdog adventure. It’s Goliath who fertilizes the soil of boyhood dreams and biblical-sized victory.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17:45)

Goliath finds his match in an underestimated shepherd boy. Evil taunts righteousness and loses. God empowers the humble.

Come to think of it, both of Desmond’s answers were right. Yes, the Bible is a fabulous and transparent story about Jesus, but it’s also about Goliath. Whether the evil is overt or subtle; whether the weapon of choice is a spear or arrogance…Jesus is our Goliath killer. In 1 Samuel 17, He delegates the stone-hurling to David, and today He equips us with the Armor of God.

“It’s about Jesus; but it’s mostly about Goliath.”

Evil met its match in an underestimated shepherd…and evil met its match in the Good Shepherd.

There is no other answer for evil.

Jesus…the ultimate Goliath slayer.