Issue 761 – Do not be Afraid – May 31, 2022
What causes you fear? Each of us is afraid of something. I used to skydive, which was great, but I was terrified of flying. Jumping out of a plane seemed fine, but flying in one scared me. I am no longer afraid of flying, but it still causes me discomfort.
For some, it is cancer. I have seen otherwise strong and rational people pale in terror at the mere word. For others, it is death or disability.
I have known men whose identity was so tied to their career that they were afraid there would be nothing to live for if they lost it. Others worry about losing their wealth and becoming poor.
Sometimes we are afraid of failing or being exposed for who we “really” are or what will happen tomorrow. We worry about our jobs and our kids. The fact is that this world can be a very frightening place.
Our fears and insecurities often come out when we are called to serve the Lord. It happened to Moses in the desert when the Lord spoke out of the burning bush.
Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Exodus 3:7-9
God Himself had heard their prayers and was going to do something about it. Moses must have been thrilled, but then came the clincher.
Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10
God’s plan was to send Moses. Moses did what many of us do and reacted out of fear,
But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” Exodus 3:11
Moses reacted as many of us would, with a “Who me? I can’t do that” kind of fearful response. When the call goes out for missionaries to serve on the board of trustees or to share our faith, we often instinctively go into fear and excuse mode.
We not only seem to lack faith in ourselves, we lack faith in God to provide what we need to do the job.
God doesn’t promise the believer a trial-free life, but He does promise to bring us through it. A Bible passage that got me through the years of litigation over the accidents that caused my brain injury was,
But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honoured, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you…” Isaiah 43:1-5a
To say, “No, Lord” is an oxymoron. If He is Lord, we will acquiesce to His desires.
Until next time, may you learn to trust Him and His plan for your life. When He calls you to serve, may you overcome the fear and say yes, Lord.
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed.
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV). Spelling modified to Canadian English as required.
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