Daily Devotional

On May 5th, 1862, in the city of Puebla, Mexico, a small, less-equipped Mexican army of 4,000 troops fought against a superior French force of 6,000-8,000 troops led by General Ignacio Zaragoza and defeated them. This was part of the Second French Intervention in Mexico (1861-1867) and was sparked when Mexico suspended foreign debt payments. The French launched three failed uphill attacks on the Guadalupe and Loreto forts, ultimately retreating, and sustaining an estimated 1,000 casualties, while the Mexican army only had 83 casualties.

While this war was not strategic in winning the battle (the French won the war a year later), the victory at Puebla, as detailed in Wikipedia, provided a massive morale boost and symbolizes Mexican resilience against foreign intervention and overwhelming odds. And it is what our Mexican brothers and sisters celebrate every year on May 5th called Cinco de Mayo.

There’s a story in Scripture that speaks of overwhelming odds. It’s found in 1 Samuel 17 where shepherd boy David went out and took on a giant warrior named Goliath with a sling and stone.
 
1 Samuel 17:45-47 45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with sword, a spear, and 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 taunted. 46 “This day the LORD will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. 47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the LORD’s and He will give you into our hands.”

Like that small Mexican army against a superior force, there are often obstacles that come into our lives that seem overwhelming. And if we face these obstacles in our own strength, we will be defeated. Cinco de Maya reminds us that when we face “giants” like financial shortfalls, serious illnesses, or relational conflicts, the battle is the Lord's. On our own we don’t have the resources, but when we put our trust in the Lord of hosts, He will give us the victory. Does this mean everything will always turn out exactly the way we want? No. But it will turn out according to God’s plan for us, and His plans are always good.

And remember, it’s not about you, it’s about God. David didn’t fight to be a hero; he fought to show us that “the Lord saves”. David was the tool God used to bring Him glory. David did not do it in his own strength, even though he was an expert with the sling and stone. And remember, God has given you everything you need to stand strong in the face of huge obstacles. You don’t need human weapons, you need prayer. So rely on Him. Trust in Him. And He will fight for you.

What “giant” is currently threatening your peace? Give it to God and trust Him to fight for you.

New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.