The scouts went out and found a land replete with all that had been
told to them. This was the Promised Land. After their expedition, they carried
a sample of the luscious fruit growing there back to those in charge.
However, in the telling of their story, the appeal of the fruit was
overshadowed by tales of giants and their strength.
“We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (Numbers 13:33), they said and spread the news among their people causing a rebellion.
Moses and Aaron had to deal with a real mess. Of the twelve scouts sent
into the Promised Land, only Joshua and Caleb stood to recommend the Israelites
should proceed.
In the end, Israel would take the land but not with the ones who
grumbled against God that day. Years later, their children inherited God’s
promise.
As familiar as this story is to so many of us, we still forget it when
the metaphorical giants appear. We’ve sensed God’s leading, and yet all we can
see in our path are the huge obstacles hovering over us like behemoth bullies.
We feel like, well . . . grasshoppers. About to be squished.
We make our excuses. Our really good excuses. We take a step back. Then
another. The fear takes control, and in time we’ve convinced ourselves it’s
better to stay where we are than take the risk.
All the time, God is ready and waiting to walk forward with us.
The prophet Elisha found himself surrounded by the horses and chariots
of the king of Aram. Elisha’s servant expressed his dismay, “What shall we do?”
he asked.
“’Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more
than those who are with them’” (2Kings 6:16).
Elisha prayed God would open the servant’s eyes. “Then the Lord opened
the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots
of fire all around Elisha.”
God is bigger than any bullies we can see. “Those who are with us are
more than those who are with them.”
So, if we’re feeling like grasshoppers, let’s pray God would open our
eyes to see His presence overshadowing any obstacle in our path. We are NOT
grasshoppers. Let’s walk forward into God’s promise repeating to ourselves that
God is more. God is bigger.
God. Is. With. Us.
