Fear No Fear

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

“The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, Zabad his son, Shuthelah his son, Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to take away their livestock. Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. He went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him Beriah, because there was trouble with his house.”
(1 Chronicles 7:20-23)

“Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him. As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said. While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.”
(Luke 9:32-36)

It is taught that these men chose to enter into the Land early and tried to take from it cattle. Some sages teach they did this because they believed Joshua’s good report of the land (Numbers 14:6-9). This is possible, although personally I don’t think the genealogy lines up. Other sages teach that some of the Ephraimites chose to stay and enter Canaan early (not going down to Egypt with the rest of the family – Genesis 41-50). Because they went before their appointed time, they ended up killed by those in the Land (Sanhedrin 92b). Either way – or even perhaps a different way – these men went where they were not supposed to. They disobeyed. And they paid the price.

Peter was the disciple that helped Jesus the most and hindered Him the most. Peter is the one who is most like ourselves, don’t you think? Speaking without thinking. Acting without waiting for permission. Or trying to force Jesus’ hand so that things happen the way Peter figured they were supposed to. Here, when Jesus was transfigured – letting His true nature and countenance peek forth from under the flesh He wore – Peter was eager to do SOMETHING. He didn’t know what. He didn’t know what he was saying, really. He just spouted the first thing that came to mind when faced with something so beyond human experience. Matthew 17:9 shows us that Jesus told them not to say anything until after His death about what they had seen and experienced. Peter was a prime candidate for speaking. For trying to figure it out. But Peter OBEYED. No one said a thing about what they had seen until AFTER Jesus’ resurrection to life.

Summary

We don’t always understand God’s timing. After all, we aren’t given all the details. We’re blessed when we get given ANY details. God doesn’t owe us an explanation. Our relationship with Him is based on our believing what He says and trusting that He can do it. Period. Full stop. There are times when we get glimpses of things beyond what we can understand. There are other times when we don’t get glimpses of anything at all. But we will be given clear instructions. Those instructions will line up perfectly with the Word. There will be no contradictions. Do we do what God tells us to? Or will we not? Do we love Him enough to listen to what He says? Do we trust Him enough to obey? Jesus tells us that He loves us. We know that we should learn about that love and also learn to love Him back (Ephesians 3:14-21). When we love Jesus, we will find ourselves obeying Him (John 14:15). When we hear from God, when we are shown something in His Word, we need to love Him. We need that love of Him and His love for us be the foundation upon which we base our actions, words, and thoughts. When we love Him, truly love Him, He becomes our source of all wisdom and our rest from trying to accomplish everything ourselves. He is the Way, and we need to follow.