Have you ever heard of “grasshoppers syndrome”? If you have, I’d be surprised because I think I just made it up but it’s possible someone else has had the same witty thought I have. Grasshopper Syndrome was first diagnosed in Numbers 13.
Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt and God said He had given them the Promised Land. All they had to do was go in and possess it. Moses chose twelve men to go in, spy out the land and bring back a report. Ten men came back with Grasshopper Syndrome and two men, Joshua and Caleb, came back “considering” only the good that God had revealed to them.
The ten men said this:
“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
The problem wasn’t the giants in the land, it’s that they were considering the giants and not God and saw themselves as grasshoppers. Their misconception kept them wandering in the wilderness area for years to come.
Years later we find a second outbreak of Grasshopper Syndrome. It occurs in I Samuel 17. The story of David and Goliath. The army of Israel had heard Goliath taunt them for 40 days.
“And the Philistine said, ‘I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together’. 11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.” I Samuel 17:10-11
Goliath was the largest man around. He came out twice a day mocking the armies of God. Grasshopper Syndrome had spread throughout the entire army, and they were filled with fear.
Then David, a shepherd boy, showed up. He heard Goliath’s defiant cries, and asked but one question “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” David didn’t concern himself with Goliath’s size. No, he considered God’s promise of protection to the Israelites.
Circumcision was a sign that God had promised to always be with the Israelites. It meant I will give you My all and when you need Me, I will be there.”
David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me using sword, spear, and javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful, the God of the armies of Israel. You have said bad things about him. 46 Today the LORD will let me defeat you. I will kill you. I will cut off your head and feed your body to the birds and wild animals…Then all the world will know there is a God in Israel…The battle belongs to the LORD, and he will help us defeat all of you’.” I Samuel 17:45-47
With one shot from David’s sling, Goliath was dead.
What kind of Goliath is standing in front of you today – unemployment, illness, personal relationships, financial hardship – whatever it is, do like David. Consider God and not the giant.
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4
Take God’s word and destroy the giant, remove Grasshopper Syndrome from your thinking, let God’s word have final authority in your life. You are and will be victorious in this life!