God Glasses

The LORD said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.”

Numbers 13:1-2

Census completed, preliminary instructions delivered, it was time to enter the land God had promised Israel. But first, the people have asked for men to go ahead to spy out the land and bring back a report (Deuteronomy 1:22).

After forty days the twelve returned with luscious grapes, pomegranates, and figs. The land “does flow with milk and honey!” (13:27). But the people who live there are powerful and the cities are fortified and very large” (13:28). It was the “giants” who got their attention! In fact, “we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them” (13:33).  

At least, that was the opinion of ten of the men. Caleb took a stand against the majority: “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it” (13:30). And Joshua agreed: “If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us…will give it to us…we will swallow them up” (14:8-9).  

What do you see when trouble comes your way? Are there “giant” issues stomping on your serenity? Or how about all those little “grasshopper” details jumping through hoops in your head? Fear has a habit of messing with our minds.

Instead of giants and grasshoppers, what we need to see when troubles come our way is the face of God. Psalm 91:9-16 is loaded with that reassurance.

If you:  

1.live with God: make the Most High your dwelling…no harm will befall you

2.love God:       because he loves me …I will rescue him

3.praise God:    he who acknowledges my name …I will protect him

4.ask for help:   call upon me …I will answer…be with…deliver…honor him

It’s a matter of contrasting fear with faith then: “Fear is ‘what if’. Faith is ‘even if.’”* So put on your God glasses—you know, the ones that look directly in His face. “Even if” there are giants and grasshoppers in the way, He knows the best route to the flow of milk and honey.

Nancy P

*unknown source 

All Scripture quotations are from the NIV Translation 1973, 1978, 1984, unless otherwise noted.