Fear No Fear

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

“All the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. All the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “We wish that we had died in the land of Egypt, or that we had died in this wilderness! Why does Yahweh bring us to this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be captured or killed! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return into Egypt?” They said to one another, “Let’s choose a leader, and let’s return into Egypt.” Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes. They spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If Yahweh delights in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it to us: a land which flows with milk and honey. Only don’t rebel against Yahweh, neither fear the people of the land; for they are bread for us. Their defense is removed from over them, and Yahweh is with us. Don’t fear them.””
(Numbers 14:1-9)

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.“
(2 Timothy 3:12-17)

Fear was chosen. Listening to the words and the descriptions of men who were scared is what motivated the Israelites. As a group, they failed to hang onto what God had done for them. They failed to equate what was in their past with what was in their future. God was there to bridge the gap, but only a very few people were seeing it. Only a very few were holding to the promises God had made. Only a very few were seeing Him for what He was: God Almighty. As a result, they were glorifying the enemy. Glorifying the strength of the enemy. They were belittling themselves and placing the focus on their own strength and what THEY could do.

When believers live like Jesus, they get kickback from everyone who feels guilty for not doing the same. When we behave as God says we should and align ourselves with God’s moral character, everyone who is living in sin gets convicted for not following Jesus. They feel the shame of disobedience and blame the believer. That persecution is inevitable. But we take it to mean we should have less. That we should be defined by lack and not Jesus’ victory. Victory over poverty. Victory over lack and want. Victory over the world’s systems. Victory in where we live and how we live. Not living to have, but having to bless other people. So that they can live in freedom like we do. Putting the focus on what God can do, not on what we are facing.

Summary

If God says we can go somewhere, we can. If God says we can have something, we can. If God says we can be free, we can. Whatever God says is possible because God empowers and equips BEFORE He speaks. He has a unique point of view and we need to let Him have it. We need to align with it. We need to not fight Him and instead embrace the possibilities HE has. If God did miracles in the past, He can do them now, and in the future too. Nothing has changed. There will be giants roaring in our direction. But if God is for us, nothing can stand against us. The only thing keeping us from the fulfillment of God’s promises is our own demand to rebel and look at our own strength to conquer. We need to depend on Him, not be defenseless.