You're not a grasshopper

I have battled with fear in my life on more than one occasion. Fear is a powerful emotion that can leave me feeling very anxious and overwhelmed. When I am afraid, I lose sight of God’s faithfulness and goodness. As I write the message for church this upcoming Sunday, I’m reminded of just how paralyzing fear can be. The scripture I’m sharing and teaching on is the report of the spies found in Numbers 13 where fear is wins over faith. As the people of God were on the verge of entering the promised land that God had prepared in advance for them, Moses sent 12 men to secretly check out the landscape. He wanted to determine if it was prosperous and able to produce all of the sustenance they would need. As the spies returned, they brought back so much fruit that they needed two guys to carry the branch on their shoulders! Though the land was as prosperous as God promised and they returned with a huge harvest, the spies delivered a bad report and began to make all sorts of excuses for why they couldn’t conquer it. They said the following:

“The people are too strong for us.” (vs 31)

“The land devours its inhabitants.” (vs 32)

“They are giants like creatures there.” (vs 33)

“We are like grasshoppers to them and thus that is who we are.” (vs 33)

What is happening? How did the people of God go from being His chosen ones to feeling like grasshoppers? How do the same people who walked through a parted sea and witnessed nightly pillars of fire decide that they couldn’t accomplish anything or move forward? Fear. They were full of fear. They believed the strength of the nations living there was more powerful than Yahweh. They even made up stories of seeing giants on their road trip. What is happening? Fear was baiting them. Fear was crippling them. Fear always creates false realities about what is really happening.

This fear had crippled God's people so badly that they described themselves as grasshoppers. Really? A small tiny insect is how they have come to view themselves.

In the midst of all this fear, there was this guy named Caleb who was not afraid. In fact, he was fearless in the midst of great opposition. Without going into his entire speech in Numbers 13 and 14, he basically says this:

Quiet down those of you giving this bad report. We can overcome anything.The land we spied on is a good land and we have Yahweh on our side. He is giving us this land and we are going to enjoy it. What can stand against us?

And, right there in a moment of massive fear and panic, one person stood up and had the courage and faith to believe something good was about to happen. I get it. There are plenty of times in my life where I feel like a grasshopper. Insignificant. Hidden. Jumpy, (anxious...get it....grasshoppers are jumpy....get it?), scared of being stepped on and crushed by people around me. This is what fear does. When I am afraid, I forget who I am in Jesus Christ. I lose my footing. I lose my ability to think rationally. I create narratives about myself and others because I feel threatened and out of control. The confidence I once had evaporates into thin air. I need to remind myself that God is bigger than every fear that tries to sweep me away. When this fear tries to steal my joy and hope I have in Jesus Christ, I try and remember a few thoughts:

I remember who I am in Jesus Christ. He never sees me as a grasshopper and he treats me with significance that comes from my identity in Him alone.

I remember the faithful acts and promises of God. His work has been a constant in my life and it will never stop. God will give me the courage and faith to always believe that good things are ahead, even in the face of opposition, just as he did for Caleb.

I remember that there is a generation behind me following my footsteps. What will my kids say of my faith? What will kids say of my fears?

Let me encourage you today. You are not a grasshopper in God’s eyes and your promised land is just around the corner! Your greatest breakthrough is on the way. Don’t let fear prevent you from missing out on God's provision and blessings.

Let faith and courage win today.