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"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in" (Isaiah 40:22).

Do you have distinct memories from your childhood and then a clear reminder of them as you experience it again later in life?  I recall as a young boy visiting my grandparents in Southern Missouri during the summer. Of course I enjoyed playing outside during the hot days of July and August and I remember the scores of grasshoppers in the farm fields. It was a pleasurable boyhood adventure to catch as many as possible but I sure didn't like the tobacco-like juice they'd spit out on my hands!

Now, some 40 years later, I enjoy walking or riding my bike along the farm trail between the corn fields across from our home. At this season grasshoppers are abundant, seemingly everywhere you look, hopping to and fro. They "sing" as they scrape their rear legs against their wings.  When I'm on that trail the summer sights, bug sounds and torrid heat of the summer for me sure hasn't changed much.

The Bible says we are like grasshoppers!  This powerful perspective is found in Isaiah 40, which contains one of the greatest expressions of the glory and majesty of God in the entire Bible. 

"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers." What candid bluntness regarding the relative temporary and frail condition of man! I observe that the grasshopper as just a tiny little insect compared to me and has a lifespan of only 4-12 months.  The ones that I saw as a young boy are long gone.  And with a longer, let alone eternal, perspective that's the same for us on our earthly journey.

Nature and history verifies this again and again.  Are we different today?  I suspect each living generation believes there is a special significance to their own existence.  But the Bible declares, "generations come and generations go" (Ecclesiastes 1:4).  And so will ours.

The imagery of the grasshopper is contrasted with "He who sits enthroned above the circle of the earth."  Another text asks, "What is man that thou art mindful of him?"

But Praise be to God, the Almighty God is mindful of us. He does love and care for each one, although, in comparison to Deity, we are like grasshoppers.  He provided His Son, who came down to dwell among us.  He gave His life for the fallen human race and then He rose from the dead and ever lives to make intercession for us. And one glorious day He is coming again!

I urge you to keep that perspective before you today as we go through the stuff of life. I hope you remember this verse and perspective every time you see a grasshopper!


Be encouraged today,


Stephen C. Weber

Brooksyne's prayer: Father God, Your almighty power is balanced with Your tender compassion toward all of creation.   It is because of Your abundant mercies that we are not consumed or utterly forsaken.  You provide exceedingly more than the bare essentials for our earthly dwelling.  Your abiding presence provides faithfulness, stability, and expectant hope for every challenge we face.  Thank You for clothing us with dignity, providing us with salvation and for abiding with us day in and day out.  Amen.

Brooksyne's Note:  You know; catching grasshoppers isn't just a boy's thing!  I grew up on a small farm west of Tulsa, Oklahoma and by August, when temperatures often soared over the 100 degree mark, our large yard simply turned into brown stubble.  We children went barefoot most of the summer so we were frequently stepping on grasshoppers.  To break the doldrums of hot summer days I'd compete with my brothers and sisters to see who could catch the most grasshoppers.  We'd each take a quart canning jar from the well house so we could easily count our big catch and award the winner.  Every so often the temptation to catch one still comes calling and I find myself doing just that – much to the horror of Ester who is looking on! 
 


Study the grasshopper
Photos of beautiful grasshoppers

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