“Squashing the Grasshopper”

Imagining yourself small, weak and defenseless makes the world a scary place. It’s tough to go through life dodging giants, but after reading chapters thirteen and fourteen of Numbers, I discovered my problem wasn’t even unique.

The children of Israel reached the land of promise after a long and arduous journey. God told Moses to send twelve men to spy out the land. Two of them, Joshua and Caleb, focused on God’s promises. With Joshua cheering him on, Caleb said, "Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” (KJV)

The others answered, "We saw the giants . . . and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers." (KJV)

Pleased with Caleb’s faith, God said, “. . . my servant Caleb is different from the others. He has remained loyal to me, and I will bring him into the land he explored. His descendants will receive their full share of that land.” (NLT) God equated their faithful, fearless attitudes with loyalty to Him.

As I read those words, truth pricked my heart. For years I had spied out ground I longed to occupy and found it filled with giants. My life teemed with Goliaths, and in every skirmish with the enemy I saw myself a grasshopper. Fear reduced my Promised Land to a worthless piece of real estate, land I was destined to pass on to my children’s children.

This realization lit a fire in my soul and a determination to be different. God’s words fueled the hope that I might be the first in a long line of faith-filled warriors. Hope brought healing, and in the process God birthed a ministry in me.

What miracles might He have wrought in my life if I’d understood sooner? If you feel you’re set apart to do something for God, I urge you not to waste another day. Focus on His promises. “Go up at once, and possess it; for you are well able . . .”