I want to take you back to the story of the twelve spies who were sent to spy out the land of Canaan and allow me to share with you something I discovered in my Bible reading.

You know the story; twelve men were selected to go out and spy on the land. They were asked to give a report on what the land was like. A land, might I add, that God had already promised them.  There was a rather extensive list of items they were asked to survey.  They came back with a great report, for the land did indeed flow with milk and honey; but then they gave their opinion, which was not asked for. Ten of them had the opinion that, yes, indeed, the land was great, but there were giants.  In fact, the giants were so huge that “… we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”  (Number 13:33b). To summarize, yes, the land was great. Everything they could have hoped for. But if we try to go in, we will be squashed like bugs. 

Then Caleb and Joshua spoke up and tried to encourage the people:

If the Lord delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. Only rebel not ye against the Lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not.

That phrase “they are bread for us,” I love it!!  This just might be the origin of the phrase “piece of cake,” as no one knows for certain.  In their effort to encourage the children of Israel, they said, “If we have the Lord on our side, we’ve got this! Piece of cake!”

Two different perspectives came from the men sent to look at the same thing.  Either a grasshopper waiting to get squashed, or they are bread, a piece of toast, just waiting for us. I am not certain, reader, how you might respond to obstacles or troubles on the pathway of life.  I have had my “grasshopper” moments, and I have had my “bread” moments.  The key point that struck me was that we must have God on our side in order to have the “piece of bread” mentality.  The other side is one of fear and constantly waiting for the crushing blow.  What a horrible way to live, always fearing that the next trial is going to be the one that finishes us off.  I would never want to make light of the trials that must be faced along the pathway of life, but I do believe it is the attitude toward them that is important.  As a child of God, we are more than conquerors. The Lord is with us, so why would we want to live like grasshoppers?  How much better is it to live on the winning side, and this side has bread from past victories! 

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Miriam Chung, Christian School Teacher

Mrs. Chung grew up around the work of the ministry and now has the privilege of teaching at the North Valley Baptist Schools. She and her husband faithfully teach young people and are a vital asset to the ministry of NVBC.