"We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." Numbers 13:33
You may not be what you think you are but whatever you think, you are. That luminous line reminds us that it is indeed our mentality that shapes our reality. As Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." It is problematic when we begin to let pessimistic thoughts peruse the perimeter of our minds. In the vivacious vernacular of my father, this is what is known as, "Stinking thinking". What is stinking thinking? Well the text above delineates in detail what it means to have this manner of mindset.
In the text, the people of God are parked on the perimeter of their Promise land possession. Because they are on the border of their blessing, they are given a vision, or a preview of coming attractions. 12 spies are chosen to check out the land and after 40 days report the results of their investigation to the rest of the congregation. They begin by stating the enormous opportunities awaiting them in the land by saying, that it was good and "flows with milk and honey" vs. (27). However it was at this point that stinking thinking began to surface as 10 of the 12 spies flipped the script and started talking about the eminent obstacles blocking their path. Below are the characteristics of a stinking thinker.
1. Stinking thinkers are pessimistic vs. (28). In the face of something positive, 10 spies were determined to focus on what they assumed was negative. We all know people just like this who have the tremendous talent to always believe and bring out the worst in the face of the best!
2. Stinking thinkers are phobic vs. (29)- They report that there are fighting people in the land and since they are farmers, they are powerless to prevail. Because of their cowardly demeanor, they lacked the courage and confidence to conquer. People like this are always too afraid to step onto the stage of an opportunity because of "what could happen", or what "could go wrong".
3. Stinking thinkers reject the promises of God vs. (31). Despite the assurance of success that God had already given them, they waved the white flag of surrender on their situation. It is a tell-tell sign of a stinking thinker to say no when God has already said yes.
4. Stinking thinkers have the wrong perception of themselves vs. (33)- The text says because they saw themselves as grasshoppers, they believed others saw them in the same way. In this case, their mindset became a mirror by which others view them. We are quite familiar with people who project onto others what they really feel about themselves!
Tragically the stinking thinking of the ten caused them to miss out on what God had for them.
My prayer today is that you will not allow stinking thinking to short-circuit your success.
Peace!
