Rice or Grasshopper
(Num. 14:9)

The Bible states that the heart is the source from which all things come. A person’s life is decided based on what kinds of thoughts are leading one’s hearts. The hearts of Christians must be filled with the word of God and be led by it. After the 12 Israelite spies scouted the land of the Canaanites for 40 days, their report shook the hearts of the people. 10 of the spies claimed that compared to the descendants of Anak, they were like grasshoppers, while Joshua and Caleb proclaimed that they would devour them.

1. The impression of rice
1) Rice is something we eat every day in order to live, and is the source of our energy.
2) Rice is something that we cook beforehand so that it can be eaten. God has already prepared a table of food before us. (Psalm 23:5, James 1:2~4)
3) A table of food gives us the impression of a festival that makes our heart filled with joy. (Deuteronomy 12:7)

2. The impression of grasshopper
1) For the people of Canaan, the Israelites would have looked like grasshoppers. In other words, the fighting capabilities of the Israelites would not have been comparable to that of the Canaanites. (Numbers 13:33)
2) Because the Israelites were unable to see God who was with them, they were controlled by feelings of hopelessness and fear about their chances of defeating the Canaanites. (Numbers 13:31)

3. Receive the grace of atonement from the cross
1) In order to make the grasshopper become food, we must receive the grace of the atonement of the cross.
2) By the atonement of the cross of Jesus, ‘sin and disease and curse and death’ which are grasshoppers are transformed into food.
(Romans 6:6~7, Psalm 53:5, Galatians 3:13~14, Hebrews 2:15)
3) A difference in thinking makes a huge difference in our lives. If our hearts are changed through thinking, dreams, faith, and creative proclamations then there will also be amazing things in our lives. (Proverbs 4:23)

In order for our lives to be changed, our thoughts must change first. Those who know that God is with them, and received the grace of the atonement of the cross will no longer call themselves grasshoppers. Instead, in the face of their problems and sufferings in life, they will be able to proclaim that all of those things are simply food for our spiritual growth.