5 stones

Everyone knows the story of David & Goliath. We've applied lessons of God giving us the strength to conquer our own "giants" to everything from addiction to football. But there may be another lesson that we have been missing.

If you'd like take a moment to read the story again.

Read verse 37 again:
"The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine."

Now re-read verse 40:
"Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine."

In verse 37 David is confident that God will help him to slay the giant, but just 3 verses later he picks up FIVE stones. Why did he need five? God would take care of him, wouldn't he only need one?

The answer may actually appear in verses 34-36.
"But David said to Saul, 'Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.'"

This wasn't David's first fight. He knew what could go wrong. He knew that the first stone might miss or that he may drop it before he ever got it into the sling. So he grabbed more than he would need. This wasn't a lack of faith, it was preparation. David knew that God would take care of him, but he still needed to do his part.

How often do we use faith as an excuse for a lack of preparation  I don't have to look for a job, God will provide. I don't have to study for the test, God will provide. I don't have to serve others, God will provide.

Make sure you're picking up all the stones you might need as you head out to face your giants.