Fear No Fear

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

“I see him, but not now.
    I see him, but not near.
A star will come out of Jacob.
    A scepter will rise out of Israel,
and shall strike through the corners of Moab,
    and crush all the sons of Sheth.
Edom shall be a possession.
    Seir, his enemy, also shall be a possession,
    while Israel does valiantly.
Out of Jacob shall one have dominion,
    and shall destroy the remnant from the city.””
(Numbers 24:17-19)

“Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is righteous, because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.“
(John 6:24-30)

Balaam not only spoke the truth, but he prophesied of the Messiah, the Anointed One who would come in the far future. A star out of Jacob – which the wise men followed to the house in Nazareth (Matthew 2:9-12). A scepter rising out of Israel – a future fulfillment of His second coming (Revelation 2:27; 20:11-15). The One with dominion – which Jesus was given by the Father (Ephesians 1:20-21). Balaam could see because of the Holy Spirit who had descended on him the far future of Jesus coming. First with one mission and then, soon to be, with a second. The Messiah would come out of these people and defeat ALL the forces of darkness.

Jesus came to be our food. To be our bread and water. Our sustenance on a daily basis. He wasn’t about natural food and resources that spoil and waste away. He was about our true food. That which connects us to His strength, His love, His authority, and the power the Father works through us. Jesus was the visible manifestation of the invisible God. The One we can touch. The One we can communicate with face to face while we wait to be perfected by Him so that we can see the Father face to face. Not in vision, but in person. Jesus is the food by which we grow into maturity. The Anointed One whose anointing enabled us to receive from Him our salvation and our sustenance as we live out our abundant salvation day to day.

Summary

Jesus is coming soon. Maybe not today, and maybe not tomorrow, but soon. The clock keeps ticking. Between now and then the Great and Terrible Day of the Lord will dawn. And what will see us through that day of such apparent uncertainty is Jesus. If we are seeking His food, and drinking His drink, and doing it in remembrance of everything He has done for us and that He provides for us, then there will be NO uncertainty. We will KNOW that we KNOW that we are provided for. That we are protected. That if we will listen and do what He says, when He says, and how He says, that we will be safe and able to be a blessing to everyone around us. No matter where we find ourselves on that Day. In a house or in a field (at work) or in our beds. No matter WHERE we are we can look to the scepter, the star, and the One who has ALL dominion and authority. We are fed by Him, kept by Him, and if we will lean into His will and instruction, protected by Him. Amen.