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 13:33
If you are unfamiliar with this verse, let me give you a little background.
Moses and the children of Israel have crossed the Red Sea and are ready to go into Canaan to possess the land. But before they go in, Moses sends 12 spies to check the land out. When they return, the Bible states that 10 of the men gave an evil report and 2 (Joshua and Caleb) gave a good report.
The evil report had to do with the size of the people and the obstacles ahead of them, but the good report focused on the victory promised them from God. But no matter what Joshua and Caleb had to say, the 10 won the people over to their side when they said, “we were like grasshoppers in our sight, and so we were in their sight.”
God had Moses send the 12 to spy out the land and I can imagine when they left they were excited. Finally, they have arrived to the Promised Land given to them and their descendants because of Abraham! And since it was the Promise Land given to them by God, surely everything would go smoothly. When they arrived the place was beautiful, but as they venture across the land they see giants. And as they come across the giants, the fire begins to dim.
Life is full of giants. But how we view the giants make all the difference in our outcome. The way we view ourselves and think others view us will also affect the end result.
I recently taught my students about the “frame of reference” people write from, make decisions from, etc. We were actually discussing the Ancient Israelites in World History. The “frame of reference” came into play as we discussed the ways that the Jews, Christians, and Islamic faiths tend to view Abraham. And then we talked about the author’s frame of reference and how diligently he tried to ignore the God of Abraham. You can’t correctly teach about Abraham and the children of Israel without speaking of God.
Anyway, when we look at a situation in life, our frame of reference will determine our outcome in the situation. The ten spies frame of reference was what they saw and how they saw themselves; Joshua and Caleb’s frame of reference was-God will be with us, so we are well able to take the land. God was pleased with Joshua and Caleb and displeased with the ten and their ability to lead millions to their death instead of their inheritance.
What is your frame of reference today? Are you looking at your problems and situations through the lens of the word of God, the promises of God; or are you looking at the size of your problems, how you see yourself or how you feel others are viewing you. I know sometimes I have fallen in that trap of thinking that the promise of God couldn’t happen in my own life because of this, that and the other. But I challenge you today, as I have challenged myself, to change your frame of reference to what God has promised and step on those grasshoppers as you cross over into your promise! Wonderful Jesus!
Wonderful Jesus! 