Sunday sermon: A land of giants

Sep 11, 2011, 10:58 AM

The text this morning is Numbers 13:32-33: "This is a land wherein all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants ... and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers."

That's the scouting report the Children of Israel got on their first opponent, the sons of Anak. They were fresh from the Wilderness, tromping around for years on a diet of manna and quail. Now, they were facing the giants ... big, strong foes who in their eyes would squash them like bugs.

You can imagine how the Children of Israel responded. They moaned, lamented and gnashed enough teeth to keep the dentist busy for weeks. "We're doomed!" They wailed. "We will be destroyed!"

Sound familiar? If not, just read down the threads a bit. The Children of Israel wear orange sackcloth and are just as fickle and fearful as ever. Their shrieks and tears and lamentations echo throughout the camp.

We've had our manna and quail, and walked out of the desert. Now it's time to take on the sons of Anak.

Hey, did anyone tell you that reclaiming what is rightfully ours would be easy? Did you really believe all we had to do is show up, announce our intentions and watch our opponents fall all over themselves getting out of the way.

Welcome to the Promised Land.

We're leaving the manna and quail and heading for red met. And honestly, there are a lot of folks who don't think the Tigers are up to the task.

That's fine. The Jordan River is right here. Feel free to pitch your tent and stay right here.

Because it's about to get bloody. It's about to get painful. And if you aren't willing to stand and face the giants, you're going to be trampled.

The next three weeks offer little in the way of comfort and nothing in the way of mercy. It will be a time only for the strongest of spirit. If you're coming into this fight expecting the other guy to win, then you've already lost.

And honestly, the sons of Clemson don't need that kind of aggravation. We are looking at three weeks to raise the banner of our heritage to the heights it once held. We are standing at the river, knowing there are giants in the land beyond who do not want us to become all that we are capable of becoming.

Do we cower before these giants? Or do re relish the opportunity to join them in battle, and surpass them in stature?

Those who cower, stay here. There is nothing for you in these next three weeks but fear.

Those sons of Clemson who love that name, who are willing to fight like #### for that name, stand together and start marching. Let there be no weeping, no weakness, nothing but the certainty that the sons of Clemson have been brought here to claim what is ours.

We have giants to slay, and legends of our own to be written.

Wipe the blood off the ball and spot it. This is going to be fun.

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It can also be pointed out that the '81 season included a scrappy Wofford team that, according to the score, at least, gave us a heck of a game in the valley. That was 30 years ago, however, and has nothing to do with yesterday or next week.

The fact remains we came a lot short of showing superiority yesterday. Even in our basic defense, I would have liked to have seen a much better showing. Giving up one yard shy of 400 to Wofford is 200 too much, IMO.

What does that mean for the game against Allbarn? Don't know. You can hardly blame those fans who think Allbarn will put up 600+ yards on us. At the same time, we may see a completely different defense next time. I'm guessing, though, if we win it's a squeaker.

Sunday sermon: A land of giants

and if I remember correctly Rev...they were COMPLAINING

and daughters..***

Re: Sunday sermon: A land of giants

Here's the positive: Last year, after 2 similarly

There certainly hs been a lot of overreacting, no doubt.

Right on Rev! Concede nothing!

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