We Seemed Like Grasshoppers
Moses sent twelve spies, one from each of the Israelite tribes, to scout out the land of Canaan, land God had promised to give them. For forty days, the twelve Hebrews went throughout the land, and, as Moses had asked them to do, they brought back some of the amazing fruit they found. The spies saw marvelous sights—strong people, large and fortified cities, and descendants of Anak. As Moses and the people stood around the spies, ten of the men said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are. . . . And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them” (Num 13:31, 33).
You know the spies were right; there was no way under heaven that they could go up against the giants living in Canaan and win. The giants were far too huge to conquer, and the Israelites simply didn’t have the tactical skills to overcome a formidable foe. No wonder the Israelites seemed like grasshoppers to the Nephilim!
But the ten spies who argued against taking the land forgot God was on their side. It’s hard to understand how they could have been so shortsighted. After all, God had brought destructive plagues on Egypt; opened the Red Sea so that the Israelites could cross on dry land and then flooded the Egyptians when they tried to cross; gave the Israelites manna, quail, and water; led his people with a pillar of cloud and of fire; and showed himself on the mountain with great rumblings and lightning and thunder.
Why did the ten spies not recognize that the God who had displayed his power over and over and over could give Abraham’s descendants the Promised Land regardless of how huge the inhabitants were? But then why do you worry when you face trouble when you know that God will bring you to the other side? It may not be fun or pleasant, and you may (like the Israelites) have work to do, but God will bring you to the other side.
When your problems seem huge and you seem like nothing but a grasshopper beside it, remember the Creator of all the universe has made you a special promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5).
This article was originally written by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., for the weekly newsletter at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.