The answer is: The inhabitants were great and tall

Deut 1:28

The fear of the Israelites before entering the Promised Land is an intriguing moment that reveals much about human nature. They stood on the brink of a major breakthrough, and yet anxiety gripped them at the thought of facing intimidating giants living in fortified cities. This isn’t just a story about a group of people over two thousand years ago; it reflects a timeless fear of the unknown and the challenge of stepping outside one's comfort zone.

Interestingly, Deuteronomy doesn’t just highlight the physical fear of the tall inhabitants but also points to a larger issue: a crisis of faith. These towering figures symbolize the great obstacles in life, whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual. There’s a profound lesson here on the importance of perception – how we view our challenges. The ten spies who reported fearfully about the promised land compared themselves to “grasshoppers” (Numbers 13:33), demonstrating that perspective can often distort reality.

Look at how fear plays a role even in modern stories—like David versus Goliath! David, a young shepherd, faced a giant with confidence assured by his faith rather than fear, teaching us that courage is not the absence of fear but the ability to act in spite of it. Narratives like these are inviting us to confront our own “giants”—to approach daunting challenges with an open heart rather than retreat. Today, remembering this lesson inspires us to muster our courage and to strive for the opportunities set before us.