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We even saw giants there, the descendants of Anak. Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that’s what they thought, too! (Numbers 13:33, NLT)
Israel should have been ready to fight giants.
Having experienced miracles of deliverance from Egypt, supernatural provision of water and food in the desert, and a continued display of God’s Presence as He led them in the wilderness (fire in the sky at night and a cloud during the day).
They should have been ready for anything.
But as the nation of Israel approached the Promised Land, Moses sent twelve men to spy out the land. Ten of them came back with a report of giants occupying the land. And having spent months witnessing an almighty God, the Israelites should have said, “Not a big deal!”
Instead, ten spies said to the people of Israel. . .
We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:31b-33, NKJV).
When we face giants, will we think of ourselves as grasshoppers or giant slayers? Both Caleb and Joshua wanted to enter the Promised Land.
Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13:30, NKJV).
There are two signature marks of giant slayers:
- They live by faith, seeing God, not giants.
- They stand against the majority.
There are two signature marks of grasshoppers:
- They live by sight, fearing giants.
- They grumble against God’s calling.
What is our giant? Our grasshoppers will oppose God’s will for our lives. Do we fear consequences, focus on a lack of resources, listen to exaggerated rumors, and then hesitate?
How can we slay our giants? Consider this speech to the Israelites by Joshua and Caleb. . .
The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, “a land which flows with milk and honey.” Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them” (Numbers 14:7b-9).
The difference between giant slayers and grasshoppers is fearing God more than giants.