The ancient Israelites felt that way too, and their story, preserved in the Sifrei Devarim, offers a powerful lesson.

Let's rewind. The Israelites are poised to enter the Promised Land, but fear grips them. They've heard stories – terrifying stories – of the inhabitants, the nephilim, the giants. And the Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal interpretations and expansions on the Book of Deuteronomy, captures their terror vividly.

"…and also the sons of giants did we see there," the text recounts. But it's not just about seeing giants, is it? The Sifrei goes on to explain that what they saw was worse, "giants atop giants". Imagine that image for a moment. It's overwhelming, isn't it? The Psalms, in Psalm 73:6, use similar imagery: "Therefore, pride bestrides them as a giant." It's not just physical size; it's the arrogance, the feeling of being invincible, that crushes you.

So, what's the response? Moses steps up, relaying a crucial message. "And I said to you… and in this thing…". What's so interesting is that he is very careful to emphasize that he doesn't speak for himself, but "at the behest of the Holy One, Blessed be He".

He tells them, "Do not break and do not fear them!" Easier said than done. But here's the heart of the message, the core of the encouragement. Why shouldn't they fear?

"(For) the L-rd your G-d who goes before you…" GOD is the one leading the way. He reminds them: "He who wrought miracles for you in Egypt, and all of these miracles is destined to perform miracles for you upon your entering the land." The One who parted the Red Sea, who brought forth water from a rock, who delivered them from slavery – that same power is with them now. The miracles weren't just a thing of the past; they are a promise of what is to come.

It's a powerful reminder, isn't it? When we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles, when we feel dwarfed by the "giants atop giants" in our own lives – whether it's a health crisis, a financial struggle, or a personal challenge – we, too, can draw strength from this ancient wisdom.

The message isn't that the giants aren't real, or that the challenges aren't daunting. It's that we are not alone. The same power that brought our ancestors through the wilderness, the same power that performed miracles in the past, is still available to us today. We just need to remember to look up, to remember the source of our strength, and to trust that we, too, can overcome even the tallest of giants.