Grasshopper Thinking
- Alan Fong
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
Today's Verse:
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 13:33
Do you think big, or do you think small? Do you think positively or negatively? Do you think in terms of "you can" or "you cannot"? Like it or not, the way you think defines the kind of person you are. In Numbers 13, we see a strange way of thinking. We see a majority of people who thought like grasshoppers. This morning, let us see the danger of “grasshopper thinking.”
We see the cause of grasshopper thinking.
Grasshopper thinking is caused when we walk by sight and not by faith. In v. 33, we read, “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak…and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers.” It is when we look at something and decide in our minds that it is too hard, too much, not possible, and cannot be done. It is when we allow what we see to scare and intimidate us. We see a Red Sea and start murmuring as to why God led us to this place. We see a fiery furnace and decide it is better to bow to the golden image. We see five barley loaves and two small fishes and complain, “What are they among so many?” We see a Mary lavishing an alabaster box of costly ointment on Jesus’ head, and we murmur, “Why was this waste of the ointment made?” We see an axe head fly off the handle and drop to the bottom of the river and think, “Alas, master! for it was borrowed.” Grasshopper thinking assumes that the problem is too big to overcome. Grasshopper thinking assumes that prayer will not work. Grasshopper thinking believes that God is not able. Grasshopper thinking assumes that we should quit instead of going forward. Grasshopper thinking is to let what we see determine the outcome in our mind and heart. It is a way of thinking that is defeated and whipped!
We see the curse of grasshopper thinking.
The ten spies said, “We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.” This kind of thinking sentenced the Israelites to wander in the wilderness for forty years. This kind of thinking resulted in the needless loss of lives. This kind of thinking is a hindrance to church growth. It is an impediment to answered prayer. It is a cancer to the body of Christ. It is a negation of the power of God. It quenches the Holy Spirit from working. It is the bane to mission’s advancement. It is the source of our powerlessness. It is a bad spirit that hinders progress. It is the enemy of faith. It displeases God. Grasshopper thinking is why souls don’t get saved and revival cannot come.
We see the cure for grasshopper thinking.
There is only one cure for grasshopper thinking. The Israelites saw the giants and thought they were like grasshoppers, but forgot that there was God. Without giant obstacles and problems that we cannot solve, we will never experience the greatness of God. The cure for grasshopper thinking is God thinking. God thinking is faith thinking. Faith thinking believes that God is, God can, and God will! Faith thinking says “no” to things that are impossible. Faith thinking says, “God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think.” Faith thinking believes and then sees! Faith thinking is thinking that pleases God. It is thinking that meditates daily on the attributes of God. It is thinking that is visionary and long-term.
Has your thinking been on the realm of grasshopper thinking? Are you thinking too small, too negative, and too insecurely? Then, it is time to confess this sin and allow faith thinking to fill your mind and soul. There may be giants and we might look like grasshoppers, but there is always God!
Have a faith-infused God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Isaiah 54-58
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