OF CANAANITES AND GRASSHOPPERS!

“And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it,[is] a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it [are] men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”—Numbers 13: 32-33, (KJV)

Today, I thought that we should reflect on “Canaanites” and“Grasshoppers”! The text I have just quoted above talks about “grasshoppers”and “the land”— terms which refer to the “children of Israel” and the country of Canaan, respectively. I have taken this story from the “Big Book” some call the “Bible”.

I have not fallen for this story just because it can teach somebody some morals—no. I have done so because it is real and not merely a mythical fantasy from some mythology books of the East.

Preamble

For those of us who may not be very familiar with the story behind the issue the excerpt brings up, here is a brief preamble:

The Israelites had completed about two years of wandering in the wilderness after evacuating Egypt at the behest of Yahweh, their God (…). By this time they had reached the borders of Canaan, their destination.Therefore, their leader, Moses decided to send twelve spies to snoop on the land and how they would attack it. They did and the excerpt is their“intelligence report” to Moses in the hearing of all Israel.

 Wrongly Convinced Spies

As their report reveals, what the spies saw in Canaan intimidated them. It was not just such a wonderful country where anyone would want to live but it also had the best of men in the world—strong and tall! Giants as they call them. The spies were ashamed of their own stature and despised themselves for being what they were.

They did not only believe what the Canaanites said about them but they also convinced themselves that they could not do anything and they were probably right! “Grasshoppers” without God can do nothing. Therefore,quickly, they moved a motion asking the leadership to suspend any military plans they had against these giants because, in the opinion of these spies, no one could stand the latter.



But they were unfortunate. There were some two other“grasshoppers” who dared to surrender their fate into the hands of Yahweh and so they shot the motion down! Caleb and Joshua were their names. These two, who were part of the espionage team, refused to bulk off! They would rather die than doubt the wisdom of Yahweh.

While accepting their "grasshopperness" their eyes by faith looked up to the Maker of grasshoppers and they dared to believe His wisdom in sending grasshoppers to conquer the giants He knew were too sophisticated in military arsenals and strategy for anyone to defeat them. It is not surprising that Yahweh faithfully rewarded their daringness and faith in Him.

Yahweh Fights for “Grasshoppers”

You can read the rest of the story for yourself at your leisure. Meanwhile, this is what I would like to suggest:

Do not be ashamed of what you are or despise your abilities. God can do anything with you if only you can let Him use you “for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”—1Sam14:6. As Jehoshaphat rightly observed, with Yahweh, “it is nothing… to help,whether with many, or with them that have no power” (2 Chr. 14:11). He can do absolutely anything with anybody anytime anywhere, anyway!

Therefore, when “grasshoppers” put their trust in Yahweh,the Author of the universe, they can do what giants cannot at the apex of their giantism and technology. It is that simple and rude, if you like! If you do not agree with me go back and check your history once more.

It Only Takes a “Song”

But I know that it only takes “grasshoppers” a song to send the most defiant cities of the giants tumbling down at any time. Joshua told us so (Joshua 6); Gideon witnessed it (Judges 7); Jehoshaphat had the priests lined up for a “holy jazz” before the Ammonites-Moabites Coalition went amok and began to slaughter each other even before he had raised his own sword against them!

That is the kind of God we have. If you and I simply acknowledge our grasshopper-ness and trust Him enough in our grasshopper-ness,we do not need to fight our battles for He will take care of that.

Perhaps the greatest and only battle we need to fight is not against our enemies but against our own superbia and the arrogance that tempts us to shut the doors against the gods and keep them out of our lives.

And so what shall we say?

Without Yahweh all Giants are grasshoppers and with Yahweh all grasshoppers are horrendous Giants. Therefore, do not despise life because of your “grasshopper-ness”. He who brought you to this “Canaan” knows why He had to bring you here and precisely knows your potential if only you will let Him direct your life.
Before you knew that there are giants out there, and that you are a grasshopper in comparison, God did. Therefore, your wisdom may not surpass His. The best you can do is co-operate with Him.
If giants terrify you, it is because you are a blind rebel who is trying to rule him/herself even before you own a club for clobbering the enemy.

As for me, I am proud to be a grasshopper heading for “Canaan”for with Yahweh on my side all my Jerichos must fear! Therefore, I do not fear giants. If anything I dare them to come before I burst into my song with Yahweh at the sound controls. You too can join me and you will never regret that you were a grasshopper by submitting to this God!

I may look like a grasshopper to the “uncircumcised Canaanites”,yes! But I have a God that is bigger than their giants. You too, may look like a grasshopper, or perhaps even be one for that matter, in fact, without Yahweh you already are, but with Him on your side you can destroy the giants standing on your way. Therefore, let no circumstance intimidate you into thinking of giving up. Dare posses your “Canaan”! Attack the giants in your life and you will rejoice in the Lord!

The stunning irony is that “Canaan” is not for giants. It “eateth” them up! God wants you, the “grasshopper” to enjoy the land for with Him it is not giantism that matters but humility and absolute surrender to the Kingdom Power and the wooing of His Spirit. Those who will choose to surrender the captaincy of their souls to Yahweh will find their grasshopperness lost in His Omnipotence and no giant will ever dare stare in their faces with disdain--Yom nifla! Copyright © 2013