Grasshopper Mentality

On Sunday, the General Director of Servant Partners, Derek Engdahl, came to talk to our class about "The Facts of Poverty". It was a great opportunity to hear from someone with extensive experience working with and for the poor, in L.A. and all over the world. It was also cool to hear that Servant Partners was born out of a bunch of college students, who were moved by the scriptures about living for justice... asking the question, "What does it mean to follow Jesus? With poverty in our backyard?"

We spent several minutes brainstorming the various contributors to urban poverty: Lack of education, employment injustices, financial near-sightedness, addition - alcohol, drugs, and gambling, generational sin, violence, abuse, lack of health care, governmental injustices, inefficient justice systems, destruction of slum communities, HUGE influxes into major city centers, lack of jobs, racism, classism, gender issues, presence of the occult - spiritual darkness and oppression. The list could go on and on. Poverty, especially urban poverty, is complex and cannot be described or solved in simple terms.

Derek brought up another interesting contributor to poverty - the grasshopper mentality. The term is coined from chapter 13 of the book of Numbers in which the 12 Israelite spies are sent into Canaan - the promise land - to scope out the land and the enemies that they would have to defeat in order to occupy it. One spy is chosen from each of the 12 tribes of Israel and they spend 40 days exploring the land in order to bring back a report to the people.

When the 12 reported back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community, they shared fruit that they had collected from Canaan and shared their report. The land was incredible and all they ever imagined, but they also relayed frightening news of huge, fortified cities, strong and powerful inhabitants, and huge giants. In regards to the giants, the men told the community, "We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

Only Caleb and Joshua encouraged the community to believe in the Lord's promise to give them this land. They pleaded with the assembly, "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

But their decision was already made. The Lord was disgusted by their fear and unbelief. He killed off all of the spies that had come back with a bad report and sent the Israelites into the desert to wander for 40 years, until every man over 20 years old was dead. Only Caleb and Joshua were spared and allowed to see the promise land.

At the end of the 40 years, Joshua sent 2 spies into the land. They met a prostitute named Rahab in Jericho who took them in and protected them from the guards. Rahab relayed some very surprising news, "I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below."

Not only did the "powerful enemies" NOT see them as grasshoppers, but they were utterly terrified by their incredible power and amazing successes with the Lord on their side. The first set of spies had simply projected their own perceptions onto the giants, without considering the promises and faithfulness of their God.

Many people in poverty have this same perception - the grasshopper mentality. While there are some obvious obstacles and strongholds for those in poverty, the Lord desires to set them free from oppression and give them victory over their enemies. Anything is possible with the Lord and doubting his strength and ability to save is sin. Part of the work of urban ministry as well as community organizing and advocacy is encouraging the people to step out in power, with confidence. You are NOT grasshoppers and the world does not think you are grasshoppers! Change the mindset, get rid of the fear. YOU are worthy of God's power.