A Grasshopper Mentality

When the Israelites came to the boundaries of Canaan they, in agreement with God, sent spies into Canaan to determine the lay of the land plus the strength and location of their enemies. All came back with a favorable report of the bounty of the land. It was all that God had said that it was. However, one thing God had not done in His description was to tell them about the inhabitants whom the Israelites would be required to fight.

Ten of the twelve spies came back with a horrifying story of giants who were terrible and warlike—plus a land that would consume them! As they cried out in their fear, they made a very revealing statement: "And there we saw the giants, and sons of Anak, who come of the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" (Numbers 13:33). Notice that the giants saw them as they saw themselves—as grasshoppers! The Israelites had a grasshopper mentality.

When we compare ourselves to others, it is because we have the same "grasshopper mentality." Our insecurities and low self-esteem rise up to cause us to instinctively feel our own self-imposed inadequacies when confronted with others whom we feel have a greater stature than ourselves.

The Israelites made two great mistakes. First, all they could see was the physical stature of the giants. As Paul said, they were “looking on things after the outward appearance" (2 Corinthians 10:7), they couldn't see the "hidden man of the heart” (1 Peter 3:4). If they could have seen the heart of the giants everything would have been different.

The names of the giants revealed their true natures. Their names were Ahiman [who am I?], Sheshai [what am I?] and Talmai [what can I do?] (Numbers 13:22). In their terror of the giants, the spies did not realize that they were looking at total defeat! Forty years later, Rahab the harlot revealed to the new generation of spies that from the day that they heard of what the God of the Israelites had done in the wilderness, their hearts failed within them (Joshua 2:9-11). The spies were defeated by defeat.

Second, they viewed things in the natural—not taking God, His ability, and calling into consideration as the basis of the evaluation of their strength and ability.

A faulty belief system will cause us to make the same mistakes as the Israelites, through our own sense of inadequacy based on a grasshopper mentality derived from many sources over the years.

When feelings of intimidation rise up in the comparison trap, stand against those feelings. "God hath not given us the spirit of [intimidation], but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). Confess who and what you are in Jesus Christ, saying: "I am a joint heir with Jesus Christ.” “I have the mind of Christ.” “I have resurrection power.” “I am a victor because I have His victory.” “I am a success because He never failed at anything and He abides in me." Look away from yourself and look unto Him, Jesus, Who is the secret of secure and powerful living. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6).

Resolve this day to see yourself, the world around you and others through the eyes of the Lord Jesus.

Be blessed today,

Jeff