So who are these giants? Were they real? And are they still around today?
The giants, referred to as Nephilim, are a mysterious group mentioned in Genesis 6:4, where they are described as the offspring of "the sons of God" and "the daughters of men." This passage has been interpreted in various ways. Some believe the "sons of God" were fallen angels who mated with human women, resulting in a race of giants known as the Nephilim. This interpretation has roots in ancient Jewish texts like the Book of Enoch, which elaborates on these beings and their corruption of humanity.
Others interpret the "sons of God" as the descendants of Seth (the righteous lineage), while the "daughters of men" were descendants of Cain (the unrighteous lineage). The Nephilim, in this view, were simply powerful or tyrannical humans.
So when the Israelites finally entered the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua (after Moses’ death), they were initially fearful of the giants, as seen in the scout report. However, God reassured them that He would go before them and deliver their enemies into their hands.
God repeatedly reminded the Israelites not to fear the inhabitants of the land, including the giants. In Deuteronomy 9:3, God says: "Understand therefore this day, that the Lord your God is He who goes over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and subdue them before you." This assurance bolstered their courage.
When Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan, they encountered and defeated several groups of giants. In Joshua 11:21–22, it is recorded that Joshua cut off the Anakim from the hill country, including Hebron, Debir, and the surrounding areas:
"At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakim from the hill country..." Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns.
However, some Anakim remained in cities like Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. So the giants didn’t disappear entirely. One of the most famous stories involving a giant happens much later in Israel’s history: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Goliath is described as a Philistine from Gath, one of the cities where the Anakim remnants had been left. Goliath’s enormous size and strength likely tie him to the same lineage of giants.
It might lead one to ask that since Joshua didn't destroy the giants entirely, are there still giants on the Earth today? Some modern interpretations and fringe theories propose that the Nephilim or their descendants might still exist in some form today, often linking them to various myths or conspiracy theories. However, these claims lack substantial biblical or historical support. The idea that they could be present today is more speculative and often rooted in sensationalism rather than scriptural evidence.
Overall, the consensus among biblical scholars is that the Nephilim, as described in the Bible, do not exist today. They were part of a specific narrative in the ancient world.
But the history of the giants can remind us of our troubles that are too great for us to handle. Many times we can be confronted with a problem or crisis for which it is very possible to summon a personal power and come out victorious. Yet there are other times when a problem is much too great, great enough to destroy us no matter how hard we try. For those types of troubles you rely, entirely, on God. If he could defeat giants that made the Israelites look as small as grasshoppers, then God can surely help you. And it's perfectly alright to do this, to admit that you cannot do one thing or another without the help of God. For some reason, this is not a popular idea for humans to accept. We like to think that there is nothing we can’t accomplish provided we put our minds to it and keep our heads above the water. Yet humans are limited in what they can do. For those limitations, rely on God. And he will take care of you.
I recall a priest once saying in a homily that instead of telling God how big our problems are, we should tell our problems how big God is.