Fear Not

 Fear Not

 What is our reaction, or how do we respond to mounting storms raging around us, or even within our very own circumstances? 

 

“Pharaoh and his army drew near...the sons of Israel looked up...they were filled with fear and cried out to YHVH” (Exodus 14:10).

 

Do we sometimes feel that the kingdom of “sin and death”, in which we were once slaves, is breathing down our necks again?  We may even feel that the ruler of this world and his armies are drawing ever nearer to us. At times of trials and tribulations, we wonder: Why did Elohim bother to take us out of Egypt in the first place? “Were there no graves in Egypt?” (Exodus 14:11).

 

Is our situation and circumstances so trying that we wish Elohim would remove us from this life?  “Oh Elohim, just take me back to Egypt, spare me this wilderness trial, or please whisk me off to the Promised Land!” Times like these enable us to better identify with our forefathers. They also faced real-life situations, which were loaded with real needs and fears daily. For instance, the twelve spies, who returned to camp bearing (according to the Hebrew text) a “slanderous” report regarding the Promised Land. The level of fear that they entertained caused them to make the following observation about themselves: “We were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their [the local population] sight" (Numbers 13:33).

 

Examples, such as this one, are for us to learn from.  “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Corinthians 10:11). These recorded experiences are living blueprints and may serve as roadmaps as we learn to walk in faith. Even in life’s darkest valleys, “He never leaves us nor forsakes us…" (Hebrews 13:5-8). As the words in the familiar Psalm exclaim: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me!” (Psalm 23:4).  YHVH’s solution to this level of fear, is His comforting love.

 

Oh yes, there are times for loud praises, crying out in prayer or doing many exploits, but there is also a time for the Holy One of Israel to declare the following, from the mouth of the prophet: “In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah.30:15). “DO NOT FEAR!  Stand by and see the salvation of YHVH which He will accomplish” (Exodus 14:13). “YHVH will fight for us while we keep silent” (v.14). We have no choice, we cannot turn back. But, can we hear the voice of YHVH saying to us: “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward!” (Exodus 14:15).

  

The word combination, “fear not” or “have no fear,” occurs over 170 times in the scriptures. The only “fear” we are instructed to develop is the “fear of YHVH”. With this perfect fear, reverence, awe, comes wisdom: “The fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Pro. 9:10). Thus the secret of moving forward is to know Him and His perfect love, as, “there is no fear in love, perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). We may not know right away the reason for the trial or tribulation, but He does, and He knows the pathway that will lead us through those times. Particularly relevant for each of us, at this season, are the words that YHVH spoke to Joshua: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for YHVH your Elohim is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). 

 

As just mentioned, "at this season", what season? No one fails to see that for the past number of years, the shifts and changes have been dramatic. Hence the “fear” issue (addressed here). Yet, to state the obvious, at any time YHVH is about to launch a new day, shifts and changes, upheavals and storms are necessary preliminaries. So, wherever you may find yourself at this moment in time, "look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near” (Luke 21:28). "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your Elohim. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' (Isaiah 41:10).