The Grasshopper Myth

Have you ever known someone who had amazing potential to excel in life but they couldn’t see it? They couldn’t see what was so obvious to everyone else because they believed something about themselves that wasn’t true.

In the Old Testament book of Numbers, Moses is leading the children of Israel towards the promised land. Moses is doing everything he can to convince the Israelites they are no longer slaves and that they have value beyond being good brick makers. It’s a daunting task because if people can’t see themselves the way God sees them, their identity gets distorted. The Israelites were free, but they didn't act free. They lived in fear. They had a scarcity mentality.

In Numbers chapter 13, God told Moses to send some men out to explore the land God wanted them to have. Moses sent out 12 tribal leaders to explore the land. They returned from their exploratory mission 40 days later. There was the majority report and the minority report. The majority report came from 10 of the 12 men who explored the land. They said the land they explored was bountiful, a land flowing with milk and honey. They said the land produced amazing fruit. In fact, they brought some of the fruit back to show everyone. I imagine Moses was licking his chops thinking about the possibility of possessing this amazing land. But then the report turned negative. They said, “But the people living there are powerful, and their towns are fortified. We saw giants there, and next to them we felt like grasshoppers.”

Then came the minority report from Caleb, with Joshua at his side supporting him. He said, "Let's go, we can take the land, we can conquer it.” Unfortunately, the majority report scared the people, and they turned against Moses and said, ‘we’re not going.’ You can read the rest of the story, but let me warn you — it’s a sad, tragic story. It’s the story of people giving into fear. It’s the story of people forgetting that God parted the Red Sea so they could escape from their oppressors in Egypt. It’s the story of people who lived out of fear rather than faith.

The grasshopper myth happens when we allow people and problems to shrink down our faith.

The story of the Israelites wandering around in the desert is recounted by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10. A whole generation of people forgot who they were and wasted away in the desert. When we forget who we are, we are inclined to live in fear, to grumble and complain, and to indulge in evil behavior. In fact, we might do things we never imagined we would do.

You and I were born for more than that — but it takes courage to realize our purpose and potential. It’s never too late to face our giants.

Hebrews 10:38 (NIV) says, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

Are you shrinking back from some perceived giants in your life? Don’t give into the grasshopper myth. You are more than a grasshopper — you are a child of God.

As Caleb said, “Let’s go!”

Stay close to Jesus,

Steve