Goat’s Skin, King’s Armor, and a Shepherd’s Tunic: Ditch the Costume for Confidence in God-in-You

The last post I made, I had intended to compare Jacob and David, however, my fingers decided to write something else! So, here I am at my computer again, and we’ll see what winds up coming out today.

As I was reading the story of Jacob while keeping David’s story in the back of my mind, an intriguing comparison surfaced. Honestly, it was one that had never occurred to me before, but as I pondered the two stories, the character of both people seemed to surface; character traits which I believe God desired to highlight to me when He gave me the nudge Be a David, not a Jacob.

What I’m talking about are two stories that are SO DIFFERENT on the surface, yet oh, so telling when one digs into them; the story of Jacob getting his father’s blessing and the story of David battling Goliath. First, we’ll delve into Jacob’s story.

Jacob, the second-born son who bought his brother’s firstborn birthright, decided he also wanted their father’s blessing, a blessing that Isaac had intended for Esau. So, while Esau was out hunting the game Isaac had requested, Jacob and their mother cooked up a plan…literally. Rebekah make a goat stew for her husband then took the hair from the goats to cover her son’s arms and neck. She did this because Esau had more body hair than Jacob, and they wanted the deception to work. Isaac was more or less blind at this point, so he would be relying on touch, smell (yep, no deodorant in those days!), and sound. Needless to say, the deception worked, and Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau.

Now, we’ll go to David’s story. Israel was once again fighting with the neighboring Philistines. The Philistines were occupying land that God had promised to Israel many many years ago. (Recall that after the miraculous demolition of the wall of Jericho and the initial victory, there were still inhabitants in the land.) The nation of Israel was charged with finishing the job, one battle at a time…over time. So, here they are, up against the Philistines in Judah’s territory.

One lone giant was intimidating King Saul and the entire army! And to make it worse, he was insulting God! This lasted for forty days!! Enter David. What I find interesting in his initial observation is that he is most upset that the Philistine is insulting God, and Israel’s fear-filled response adds to the shame and disgrace of Goliath’s words just added fuel to David’s indignation. Instead of allowing God to have victory over Goliath and demonstrate God’s power, supremacy, and ability to enable Israel to walk in His blessings and promises, they allowed God’s name to be drug through the mud, making Him appear weak and able to be defeated. This was completely unthinkable to David.

So, what does he do? He goes out and faces Goliath…alone. And not suited up either. Saul tried to get David to wear his armor, but it didn’t fit. David didn’t find this out on this particular day. He already knew that! In 1 Samuel 16, we see Saul making David his armor-bearer. Yet here we see, one chapter later, Saul is trying to get David to wear his personal armor. Maybe he wanted David to look like a more powerful and worthy opponent. I mean, what impression would that give the Philistines? The king of Israel sends…a shepherd boy? With nothing but a few rocks and a slingshot? No wonder Goliath laughed.

David knew he didn’t have to dress up to walk in God’s promises or blessings. He didn’t have to pretend to be anyone else. He just had to be himself. Why? Because he knew God’s character and God’s promises that He had spoken over His people. Jacob knew God’s promises too. I’m sure Abraham and Isaac shared the stories of God’s promises and personal visitations with Jacob…including the prophecy Rebekah received when she was pregnant with Jacob and Esau. It’s not that Jacob didn’t know; it’s that for whatever reason, in his heart, he didn’t own it yet. He didn’t fully realize or trust and have the confidence to walk in God’s blessings and promises in God’s way and God’s time. So, he chose to dress up like someone else—he chose deception.

So here we have two men, both with incredible promises and prophecies from God on their lives. One feels the need to sneak and snatch and the other strides right in, full of faith and confidence in his God. One went to receive acting like someone else, but the other went in true to who he was and in the power of God. As I look over these two different methods, I pray that you and I have a heart so connected to God’s word that we have the confidence to boldly step out in His power—even if we don’t see evidence of it in the initial moments. May we have confidence in God’s plan and God’s way that we don’t need to try to “dress up” like someone else—their way of making decisions, their ministry, the way they run their families, etc.; we can have confidence in the way God is shaping us because He is molding us to be who He wants us to be. I pray that we will walk in His blessings and promises in faith and trust in His Name and not in our own strength or ingenuity.

Lord, thank You for Your word which is always true. Thank You for Your blessings and promises over our lives. I pray that we would boldly step up in faith and go forth in Your power in order to be a living demonstration of who You are to those around us. I pray that we would walk in Your blessings and promises in full confidence, an assurance that we have because of Your work on the cross. Thank You for giving us life in You. Amen.