Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

“Yahweh will bless you and keep you; Yahweh will make shine his face on you and be gracious to you; Yahweh will lift up his face upon you, and he will give you peace.“

Numbers 6:24-26

We are Adonai’s children (1 John 3). As such, we are promised some things. A LOT of things, actually. Among them is that we will be blessed. So we ARE blessed, since the Word says so. Is that blessing enough? Is it things and stuff and things? Is it favour in the workplace? Favour when we shop? When we’re driving around? With our landlords? Is it always catching the elevator? Always passing the test? Always having working appliances? How exactly are getting blessed? And can we tell when it’s not there?

Being blessed is a theme throughout scripture. It has meant such things as getting a hundred-fold harvest in the middle of a drought (Genesis 26:12). It has meant being put in charge of a nation (Genesis 41:37-44). It has meant being delivered from execution (Daniel 6:16-23). It has meant being crowned king (2 Samuel 5:1-5). It has meant getting enough fish to change the local economy (Luke 5:4-11). It has meant getting enough money to pay for all your needs (Matthew 2:11). It has meant surviving disaster (Acts 27:27-28:5). It has meant ALL those things and MORE. But there was also plenty of hardship, issues, persecution, and trouble right along with it. None of us like the hard parts. We all wouldn’t mind the good parts. And if we could manage a good middle of the road coasting, that would be best. But that’s not what the blessing IS.

The blessing of Adonai is the merit Jesus is owed shown to us. Adonai’s FAVOUR. That can show up in a thousand different ways. There’s no way to count. As many things as happens to us, each one has a way to show Adonai’s favour. That doesn’t mean we don’t have trouble. That means when trouble comes we have the upper hand – whether it looks like it or not. They came for Jesus with the intent to throw Him off a cliff and He just walked away (Luke 4:29). They later came for Him with clubs, swords, torches, soldiers, and many men. Jesus said two words and the whole group literally feel backwards (John 18:6). They came to trap Jesus with legal mumbo jumbo, but He evaded the trap (Matthew 22:15-17). They tried to catch Him with money, but the Father provided (Matthew 17:27). No matter WHAT happened, no matter HOW He was attacked, Jesus ALWAYS had the upper hand. Jesus had the FAVOUR of Adonai. Jesus was BLESSED.

It isn’t about what our physical or material circumstances appear to be. It’s about our relationship with Adonai and how that affects our day to day thinking, acting, speaking, and the emotions we choose to build. “Dear friend, I pray you may prosper concerning everything and be healthy, just as your soul prospers” (3 John 2). “But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). “But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed, but set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts, always ready to make a defense to anyone who asks you for an accounting concerning the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:14-15). “Happy is he whose transgression is taken away, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1). Sins taken away off of us, a relationship with Adonai, and our needs met. That’s being blessed. That’s being taken care of. That’s victory in spite of where we are, what is coming against us, or what appears to be happening. That’s how Jesus lived. That’s how WE can live, too.

Jesus put His relationship with His Father first. Jesus spent a LOT of time alone with Adonai, fellowshipping with Ruach HaKodesh (Luke 5:16; 6:12; 22:39). We need to do the same. Do we want our physical needs met? Our material needs? Our emotional needs? Adonai is the source for all of that. Leaning into Adonai first and foremost. Ruach HaKodesh is our guide. Our corrector. Our teacher. He helps us get to where we need to be to hear from Adonai. Not that Adonai isn’t talking CONSTANTLY – He is. But that we need to HEAR. We need to be LISTENING. We need to PAY ATTENTION. This is the first step in being BLESSED: listening to Adonai. Communicating with Ruach HaKodesh to make sure that we are doing what we need to be doing. Reading the Word expecting to see Jesus. Expecting to learn. Expecting to discover Adonai’s moral character and the Father’s will. Applying what we learn. Submitting to what we find. TALKING TO HIM – not begging or giving a wish list. Prosperity isn’t getting our favourite things. It’s aligning with the Father’s will so that we can bless those around us even as we are blessed. The Word of Faith is the message of the gospel shared with those around us so that they can trust in Jesus too.

A relationship with Adonai will see you through EVERY circumstance and happening in your life. Every disaster. Every celebration. Every piece of good or bad news. Whether we get it or miss it. Whether we dance and sing or cry. Whatever is happening at the moment, the BLESSING OF ADONAI can get us through to the other side where Jesus is standing in His overcoming victory. We get there first spiritually, we get there second physically/emotionally/relationally/financially/materially. But we get there. We get there because Ruach HaKodesh is always leading us toward Jesus. Always pointing to Him. Always facilitating conversation. It’s what LIFE is all about. Knowing Adonai, knowing Jesus, and knowing Ruach HaKodesh. There is nothing else like it. It is TRUE abundance and we should all be VERY thankful for it.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Psalm 124:8

“Our help is in the name of Yahweh, maker of heaven and earth.” We are Adonai’s helpers in kind of the same way toddlers help their parents. I remember my firstborn getting their plastic tools and being eager to help in the building of cabinets, the making of walls, and the general fixing of things around the house. They didn’t have the right tools. They didn’t have the right knowledge. They didn’t have the right abilities. But they were eager to help. We have the advantage that Adonai GIVES us the tools and has GIVEN us the abilities. We get to rely on Ruach HaKodesh for the right knowledge and we are coached every step of the way. Adonai helps us help Him. He helps us cooperate with Him. He guides us and corrects us and leads us in the way we should go. He gave us the Word to instruct us and enlighten us as to His way of doing things. He has provided all that we need to that we CAN be a help. So that we CAN cooperate. So that we’re not fumbling toddlers, but so that we can DO what we are eager TO DO: align with Him. What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8