From Grasshoppers to Grape Tasters: Embracing God's Vision

In Numbers 13, the story of the twelve spies sent into the Promised Land reveals two distinct mentalities that shape our lives: the “grape tasters” and the “grasshoppers.” God’s people were leaving Egypt, the land of failure, and heading toward Canaan, the land of promise—a place not symbolic of heaven, but of victory and fulfillment in this life. God’s desire was for His people to experience abundance, restoration, and blessing, just as He desires for us today. The first objective God had for the spies was to give them a vision—a clear picture of what He wanted for them. Without vision, people lose direction and purpose. It’s essential to see ourselves and our future through God’s eyes, to catch a glimpse of what He can do if we simply believe.

The second purpose was for the spies to taste the grapes, to have a foretaste of God’s goodness. God wanted them to experience a sample of the life He had prepared, moving them from the leeks and garlic of Egypt to the abundance of Canaan. Yet, when faced with the giants in the land, ten spies focused on the obstacles, seeing themselves as grasshoppers—small, insignificant, and defeated. Only Joshua and Caleb returned with faith, declaring that the grapes were huge and the land was good. The difference was not in what they saw, but in how they perceived it. Giants only appear when you’re on the edge of your promise; opposition is often a sign that you’re close to breakthrough.

Perception is everything. How we see ourselves, our challenges, and our God determines whether we live as victims or victors. Many struggle with insecurity, comparing themselves to others and belittling what God has given them. True humility is not self-deprecation, but exalting God and recognizing His work in our lives. Grasshoppers see obstacles and talk like victims; grape tasters see opportunities and speak with faith. Our self-perception is contagious, shaping the next generation’s view of God and life. God still has “grapes” for us—blessings, victories, and dreams yet to be fulfilled. We are called to hold onto the vision He gives, to keep dreaming, and to walk in faith, knowing that His goodness will be seen in the land of the living.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Vision is the starting point of transformation. God calls us to see beyond our current circumstances and to catch a photograph of His promise for our lives. Without vision, we drift aimlessly, but with it, we move purposefully toward God’s best. Ask God to enlarge your vision and show you what He has prepared for you and your family. [03:29]
• 2. God gives us foretaste experiences—moments when we “taste the grapes”—to build our faith for the full promise. These glimpses of His goodness are meant to stir hope and expectation, reminding us that He is our source and desires abundance for us. Don’t settle for the leeks and garlic of your past when God is inviting you into a land flowing with milk and honey. [06:35]
• 3. The way we perceive ourselves, our challenges, and our God determines our destiny. The grasshopper mentality focuses on obstacles and personal inadequacy, while the grape taster mentality magnifies God’s power and faithfulness. When giants appear, it’s often a sign that you’re on the threshold of your miracle—let your perception be shaped by God’s truth, not your fears. [09:23]
• 4. True humility is not belittling yourself, but exalting God and embracing your identity in Him. Comparing yourself to others or downplaying your gifts dishonors what God has blessed you with. Instead, recognize that God uses unique vessels, and your confidence should rest in His ability, not your limitations. [11:09]
• 5. Our mindset is contagious and shapes the legacy we leave. The grasshopper mentality can confine entire generations to the wilderness, while faith-filled vision inspires others to pursue God’s promises. Be intentional about passing down a spirit of faith, hope, and expectation to your children and community—let them see you as a grape taster who believes in God’s goodness. [16:31]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:11] - The Mission of the Twelve Spies
• [03:29] - The Power of Vision
• [05:32] - Seeing Yourself in God’s Promise
• [06:35] - Tasting the Grapes: A Foretaste of God’s Goodness
• [07:44] - Grasshopper vs. Grape Taster Mentality
• [08:39] - Giants at the Edge of Promise
• [09:23] - The Three Perceptions: Self, Enemy, and God
• [11:09] - Embracing Godly Confidence
• [13:43] - Facing Giants and God’s Provision
• [15:59] - Enjoying God’s Blessings
• [16:31] - The Contagious Nature of Mindset
• [17:42] - Holding on to God’s Vision
• [18:39] - Praying for Enlarged Vision
• [19:34] - Blessing Israel and Closing Remarks

Bible Reading

Numbers 13:17-33 (ESV) — > 17 Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said to them, “Go up into the Negeb and go up into the hill country, 18 and see what the land is, and whether the people who dwell in it are strong or weak, whether they are few or many, 19 and whether the land that they dwell in is good or bad, and whether the cities that they dwell in are camps or strongholds, 20 and whether the land is rich or poor, and whether there are trees in it or not. Be of good courage and bring some of the fruit of the land.” Now the time was the season of the first ripe grapes.
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> 21 So they went up and spied out the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo-hamath. 22 They went up into the Negeb and came to Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. (Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) 23 And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes, and they carried it on a pole between two of them; they also brought some pomegranates and figs. 24 That place was called the Valley of Eshcol, because of the cluster that the people of Israel cut down from there.
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> 25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land. 26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”
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> 30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” 31 Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” 32 So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. 33 And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.”

Proverbs 29:18 (ESV) — > Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Observation Questions

1. What did the spies see and experience when they entered the land of Canaan? ([01:11])
2. How did the ten spies describe themselves compared to the people living in Canaan? ([07:44])
3. What was the difference in the report given by Joshua and Caleb versus the other ten spies? ([07:44])
4. According to Proverbs 29:18, what happens when people lack vision?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God wanted the spies to see and taste the fruit of the land before entering it? What was He trying to show them? ([03:29])
2. The sermon says that giants only appear when you’re on the edge of your promise. What does this mean for someone facing big challenges right now? ([08:39])
3. How does the way we see ourselves affect our ability to trust God and move forward in faith? ([09:23])
4. The sermon talks about “grasshopper mentality” and “grape taster mentality.” What are some signs of each mentality in a person’s life? ([07:44])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says vision is the starting point of transformation. What is one area of your life or family where you need God to give you a bigger vision? How can you ask Him for that this week? ([03:29])
2. Can you remember a time when God gave you a “foretaste” of His goodness—maybe an answered prayer, a breakthrough, or a blessing? How did that experience affect your faith? ([06:35])
3. Are there any “giants” (big problems or fears) in your life right now that make you feel small or defeated? How can you shift your focus from the size of the problem to the size of your God? ([08:39])
4. The sermon says true humility is not putting yourself down, but exalting God and embracing your identity in Him. Are there ways you tend to belittle yourself or compare yourself to others? What would it look like to honor what God has given you instead? ([11:09])
5. The “grasshopper mentality” is contagious and can affect our families and communities. What kind of mindset are you passing down to your children or those around you? How can you be more intentional about sharing faith and hope? ([16:31])
6. The sermon encourages us to “keep dreaming” and hold onto God’s vision, even when life is hard. Is there a dream or promise from God that you’ve let go of? What would it take to start believing for it again? ([17:42])
7. Think about your words this past week. Did you speak more like a “grasshopper” (focusing on problems and fears) or a “grape taster” (speaking faith and hope)? What is one way you can change your words to line up with God’s promises this week? ([07:44])