Day 6: Grasshoppers

READ: Numbers 13:32-33

Have you ever found yourself exaggerating or flat out lying about something you were afraid to do? Well, here we have the spies (obviously petrified about going out to win The Promised Land) worried about possible “Caleb type people” in the crowd, who (despite the impossibility of the situation) just might foolishly rally everyone into thinking they could do it.

So, just to make sure that didn’t happen, the spies tell a few lies. They tell the poor Israelites that the land they spied on devours its people. Yup, devours. And, the people are not only of great size, but they are the Nephilim. Yup, THE Nephilim (beings with a reputation for being gigantic and evil). Lastly, the Hebrews looked like grasshoppers compared to them. Literal grasshoppers. Tiny. Miniscule.

Well, for those who were contemplating lining up behind Caleb, it was over. The spies, instead of being God’s leaders, became stumbling blocks to the Israelites – filling them with fear and doubt, leading them astray, and causing them to lose heart.

THINK:
-How do we submit to God’s directives when what He is calling us to is big, crazy, petrifying, full of risk and possible loss?
-Is there anything you are exaggerating about because of your fear?

PRAY & WORSHIP:
Ask the Lord to enable you to hear His voice of truth. What is He saying to you? Pray about the things in your life that are causing you to be fearful. Write them down if you need to. Ask God to replace your fear with His peace and instruction, His strength and obedience. Meditate on who God is and what He is able to accomplish when we are weak and full of faith.