Fear No Fear

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

“Then I said to you, “Don’t be terrified. Don’t be afraid of them. Yahweh your God, who goes before you, he will fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you have seen how that Yahweh your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went, until you came to this place.” Yet in this thing you didn’t believe Yahweh your God, who went before you on the way, to seek out a place for you to pitch your tents in: in fire by night, to show you by what way you should go, and in the cloud by day.”
(Deuteronomy 1:29-33)

“They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas also, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When therefore he said to them, “I am he,” they went backward and fell to the ground. Again therefore he asked them, “Who are you looking for?” They said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If therefore you seek me, let these go their way,” that the word might be fulfilled which he spoke, “Of those whom you have given me, I have lost none.” Simon Peter therefore, having a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Jesus therefore said to Peter, “Put the sword into its sheath. The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink it?”“
(John 18:5-11)

Being scared is a CHOICE. We can be terrified by what is happening in the world. We can be terrified and worried and anxious. OR we can rely on God – especially by remembering what He did for us before. The Israelites were looking at what they SAW and not remembering what God had DONE. Things against reason, that could never happen in a million years. God had done them. Impossible things. God had done them. Miraculous things. God had done them. And there was NO INDICATION that God was about to stop doing them. That He was going to close up shop and leave the Israelites on their own. No, He was committed to going with them, to helping them, to being before them – as He always had been. Yes, it was a scary sight. But if they relied on HIM, He would get them through.

Jesus asked if there was ANY OTHER WAY that the cup pass from Him. But there WAS no other way to pay for Sin, so this was the cup He was to drink. And He committed to drink it. But not everyone agreed. In spite of the demonstration of Jesus’ power, Peter still took it upon himself to act. To try and make Jesus free. But this is not what was being asked of him. He was to TRUST. He was to BELIEVE what Jesus had taught them – and Jesus taught them a few times about what was coming. He was to RELY on God, not his eyes and not on the situation. God’s glory WOULD shine – and they were to trust Him until they saw it.

Summary

It doesn’t matter what the circumstances are. World disaster. War. Conflict. Earthquakes. Internet shut off. Economy shut down. Prices rising. Diseases, sicknesses, and viruses travelling around. It just doesn’t matter. All that matters is that God is who we have before us. God is who we rely on. He can give us food through the birds. Through coyotes if He wanted to. Mole rats could drag a bag of hamburgers to our door. God has ways to help His children. He can connect the storehouses of heaven to our cupboards, freezers, and fridges. He can do ANYTHING. He is more powerful than the mightiest storm. The Earth could shake on its foundation and planes could drop from the sky, yet the beloved children of Adonai will be safe IF we are looking to Him and relying on Him for everything we do, say, and have. If HE is our Source, we will NEVER lack!