grasshoppers

I was reading in the Bible recently, going over the story of the Children of Israel as the traveled through the wilderness (Numbers 13). They had reached a point where God basically says, "It's time for you to stop wandering and head to the land I promised you."

You're probably familiar with the story. Moses sends 12 spies into the land of Canaan to check it out. Actually the word translated as "spies" could literally be translated as those who would survey the land in preparation for dividing it between the Israelite tribes.

But as you probably also know, things didn't work out so well with those spies. They returned after 40 days and 10 of them were scared to death. While they carried back wonderful proclamations and examples of what a wonderful land it was, they forgot God. They said, "There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak which come from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight" (Numbers13:33).

Another translation puts it this way, "We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. We felt like grasshoppers next to them, and that's what we looked like to them!" (NLT)

That statement may not sound earth-shattering to you, but these men swayed the thinking of a million people by those few words. The people of Israel rebelled and refused to accept this great opportunity God had given them. Their fear caused them to forget God.

They forgot the plagues He brought upon Egypt.

They forgot God's preservation of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

In short they forgot their family history.

They forgot the parting of the Red Sea,

They forgot the Manna and quail, and most importantly,

They forgot their relationship with the creator of the Universe

What is it that you fear?  Is it enough to cause you to forget the power of the creator?  To forget some of the most powerful words ever written!  Is it enough to cause you to stop trusting the one who gives you life eternal?  I wonder how far we could travel, how many enemies we could conquer, if we would only put fear aside?

Our problem is often that of the Israelite spies, "We feel like grasshoppers next to them." We need to go ahead in spite of the pounding in our heart that says, "Turn Back!"

Let me encourage you to reach down into your soul and find the faith and trust in God to face your next challenge, knowing that God is by your side. The apostle Paul gives us some of the most powerful words ever written regarding God being on our side!  Notice just some of what he says:  "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Romans 8:33-37).

We are "more than conquerors through him who loved us!"  Let's not cave in to fear, but step out and claim the promise!

-russ lawson