Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.
Jeremiah 1:8 (emphasis added)

Kind of reminds me of Moses at the burning bush. Don’t send me, I can’t talk! Don’t send me, I don’t know your name. Don’t send me, I’m no one! Here Jeremiah says I can’t go (vs 6). I don’t know how to speak. I’m still a boy! The Hebrew word for ‘boy’ here is ‘naar’ (nah’-ar). It’s used for boy, youth, lad, and even baby. A few times it refers to one who has just been weaned. We don’t know exactly what age Jeremiah was, but the age of majority in Israel was twenty years old. Considering the length of his ministry as a prophet (forty years), he is believed to have been around that age.

God called Jeremiah, setting him apart for ministry, in the womb (vs 5). But it wasn’t until the Lord needed him that he was informed and appointed to speak to the Israelites. He was young. Maybe he didn’t feel qualified to stand up before his elders and tell them what was what. Maybe he didn’t speak some of the dialects found across Israel and Judah. Maybe he was scared. I know I would be. Prophets didn’t always have the nicest of endings in Israel. He didn’t want to go. And he gave his best excuse. Guess what? God didn’t get angry.
God didn’t demand things of him. God didn’t rattle and thunder and send angels to stand over him demanding that Jeremiah obey the Most High God.

The Lord could have done all those things. They’re within His rights as Sovereign Lord. But He didn’t. He was gentle. Kind. Look at verse seven. The World English Bible reads ““Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.” But in the Hebrew God tells Jeremiah that he shouldn’t certify himself as a youth — not to limit himself by his words. But that Jeremiah shall be conversant and be eased where God appoints him. That whatsoever, wheresoever, and whomsoever God sends him to, he will be appointed to speak to. To subdue, talk, teach, tell, utter, command, commune, name, promise, pronounce, bid, and declare. Then God tells him why.

Don’t be afraid. It’s a Hebrew word here yare’ (Yaw-ray’). It means to fear or frighten. To be afraid, full of dread, put in fear, and a terrible act. It is used 333 times in the Hebrew Bible. God has definite thoughts about fear and He isn’t bashful at sharing them. Here in verse eight we have a basic reason not to fear. A foundational one. He says don’t fear because I am with you and will rescue you. That’s the whole bible right there. Humans sin, God stays beside them and rescues them. Again, if you believe that the Lord is faithful and just then you know He keeps His promises. If He keeps His promises, then this is a verse to memorise, speak out, and stand on every day all day long. God IS with us. God DOES rescue us. What more do we need than that? What more did Jeremiah need? As a God of growth and blessing, the Lord wasn’t satisfied with that. That was good enough for us, but not for Him.

Verse nine: “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.” Sound familiar? “When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, don’t be anxious how or what you will answer or what you will say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that same hour what you must say”” (Luke 12:11-12). “Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict“ (Luke 21:14-15). “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6). The Lord STILL doesn’t leave us alone. Old Covenant or New Covenant, the Lord was faithful to us. He equips us to do the things He asks us to do (2 Timothy 3:17).

Continuing in verse nine: “Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”” That is some promise. We have the same one today (Ephesians 2:7) because Jesus is set above all things (Philippians 2:9) and we dwell in Him, sharing His place (Galatians 2:20) by His Grace and His Mercy. In Him we conquer all (Romans 8:37). Because it is Him within us who does the work and not us. In Him we are everything. Outside of Him we are nothing because we can do nothing without Jesus (John 15:4-8).

We are called as Jeremiah was called. We are called to go out and preach the Good News of Salvation by Grace to all creation (Mark 16:15-18). We have been equipped with the armour of God and the fruits of the Spirit with which we can accomplish our assignment in Jesus. We are called to more than just nations and rulers. But we are also called to stand against the authorities in the spirit realm.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace, above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18).

All this hinges on whether we believe the Lord. Do we believe the Word? Do we believe what it says? Do we? We can. He tells us that again and again. He told it to Jeremiah in verses 11-12: “Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then Yahweh said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”” This is another foundational statement. Remember the first? God is with us and will rescue us. Those are HIS words. His Word. And here? He watches over His Word to perform it. Not one word is idle. Not one word doesn’t have power. Not one word isn’t unadulterated truth and full of love. And each and every single one He means. Each and every single promise can be trusted. Without ANY doubt. From Genesis to Revelation.

An almond tree was a marker for spring. It was the first tree to bloom in Israel. They watched the almond tree to see if spring had come. When they saw blossoms they rejoiced. They knew spring was coming. The almond tree takes twenty-one days from its blossoming until it is completely ripe (incidentally the same period of time from when Jerusalem was broken into and the Temple burnt — a later prophecy of Jeremiah). Twenty-one days of happiness because winter was over and the time of plenty was coming. The Lord’s Word works the same way. He watches it and we also can watch it. Weighing everything we hear and watching for it to bloom into fulfilment (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22).
God is with us. God will rescue us. God equips us. In Jesus we have all victory and overcome all that comes against us. God is faithful and just. We together — the Lord and us — watch His Word to see all the wondrous promises blossom into glory. Amen.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Luke 18:16

The Lord is our Father. Don’t ever forget that. It doesn’t matter how big and mighty and glorious and majestic He is, He is still our Father. And He welcomes us to come to Him. What does that mean? If you are sad, lonely, sick, wounded, happy, joyful, excited, fulfilled, wanting, or whatever; we can walk into the halls of the Lord (Hebrews 4:16). We can crawl up into the lap of our Father and curl up. We can lie there, while He is conducting the business of the universe, stroking our hair and giving us the comfort and nurturing that we need. He is our Father. We are His children. This is our place. In His arms.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.