Do not Fear and Fear God
Deuteronomy 31:6 - 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
This was Moses challenge to the people on the occasion of Moses' 120th birthday. He saw that his end was near, and he was giving the challenge to the next generation who would conquer the promised land. If you read this passage in context, you get the basis for why they are not supposed to fear. Moses said that the Lord will go over the Jordan before them, that He will destroy the nations before them, and that He will give them (the nations) to them. The only thing that the Israelites had to do was to be strong and courageous (not do strong and courageous, just BE) and do not fear them... Again, he reminds them the reason for no fear is because it is the Lord your personal and loving God who goes with you. And, he will not leave or forsake you. I am not sure if we could ask for any greater assurances or promises in these verses. He could just say, "Don't fear!" but instead he gives us Himself as the reason for not fearing. Fear Him as the protector, the powerful one, and the faithful one . I find this comforting and encouraging.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
Day 24 - Deut 28:58-60
Do Not Fear and Fear God
Deuteronomy 28:58-60 - 58 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, 59 then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. 60 And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.
This verse rings with a powerful warning that if we do not fear God by His obeying His word, that which we fear, the diseases, shall cling to us. It is almost as if what we are afraid of will happen if we don't fear God and obey His word. It is not to be taken literally like this but it was for the Israelites and it is not a stretch to believe that. If something is consuming us with fear in such away that we do not obey or trust God and His will for our lives, it may not be that which we fear, but we will experience his discipline to correct us so that we have our fears rearranged for our own good. What a great reminder to fear God only, to trust in His Word and to obey and love and cherish His book. And I think the word careful is a word that I haven't seen much in our generation and in our culture. It is more about our desires and plans and feelings and thoughts and hence, fears, than it is about His will, His plans and His desires. When we disobey, our hearts become hard and we will not fear God.
Deuteronomy 28:58-60 - 58 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, 59 then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. 60 And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you.
This verse rings with a powerful warning that if we do not fear God by His obeying His word, that which we fear, the diseases, shall cling to us. It is almost as if what we are afraid of will happen if we don't fear God and obey His word. It is not to be taken literally like this but it was for the Israelites and it is not a stretch to believe that. If something is consuming us with fear in such away that we do not obey or trust God and His will for our lives, it may not be that which we fear, but we will experience his discipline to correct us so that we have our fears rearranged for our own good. What a great reminder to fear God only, to trust in His Word and to obey and love and cherish His book. And I think the word careful is a word that I haven't seen much in our generation and in our culture. It is more about our desires and plans and feelings and thoughts and hence, fears, than it is about His will, His plans and His desires. When we disobey, our hearts become hard and we will not fear God.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Day 23- Dt 20:8 and Ex 19:12
Do not Fear
Deuteronomy 20:8 - 8 And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’
When we fear, not only do we miss out on God's will, we have a negative impact on others. Our courage encourages people and our fear discourages people. Trust God and others will as well!
Fear God
Ex 19:12 - Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
God's grace gives people limits and boundaries. He shows us where and how we should fear. I do not think that if had heard this warning I would be anywhere near that line, and yet day after day, I tip toe as close as I can. God is to be feared. He is to revered. We must never forget that He is just and He is righteous and he demands holiness and obedience.
Deuteronomy 20:8 - 8 And the officers shall speak further to the people, and say, ‘Is there any man who is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go back to his house, lest he make the heart of his fellows melt like his own.’
When we fear, not only do we miss out on God's will, we have a negative impact on others. Our courage encourages people and our fear discourages people. Trust God and others will as well!
Fear God
Ex 19:12 - Put limits for the people around the mountain and tell them, ‘Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch the foot of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
God's grace gives people limits and boundaries. He shows us where and how we should fear. I do not think that if had heard this warning I would be anywhere near that line, and yet day after day, I tip toe as close as I can. God is to be feared. He is to revered. We must never forget that He is just and He is righteous and he demands holiness and obedience.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Day 22 - Dt 20:2-4 & Ex 18:21
Do not Fear
Deut 20:2-4 - 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
The priest speaks for God and encourages them with God's words. Even as we go into battle, we are commanded to not be faint, to not be fearful or to panic or to be in dread of them. Not only will God be with us, but that he will fight for us and will give the victory. It is good for us to understand that if we do allow our heart to be faint and we do fear or panic, we will miss out doing the will that God has for us. Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear does not please God. Fear does not trust God. Fear keeps us from doing God's will.
Fear God
Deut 20:2-4 - 2 And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people 3 and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, 4 for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.’
The priest speaks for God and encourages them with God's words. Even as we go into battle, we are commanded to not be faint, to not be fearful or to panic or to be in dread of them. Not only will God be with us, but that he will fight for us and will give the victory. It is good for us to understand that if we do allow our heart to be faint and we do fear or panic, we will miss out doing the will that God has for us. Fear is the opposite of faith. Fear does not please God. Fear does not trust God. Fear keeps us from doing God's will.
Fear God
Exodus 18:21 -Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
In this passage, it is clear that the people who fear God are trustworthy and they hate bribes. They are reliable and they are to be leaders. Why is this so? Because people who fear God are afraid of doing wrong, so they do right. Those who are not trustworthy or do not hate a bribe do fear God. So clear and so true. Does this apply to you? Does your fear of God make you trustworthy and honest?
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Day 21 - Deut 20:1-2 & Ex 14:31
Do not Fear
Deuteronomy 20:1-2 - “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
God names the things that can cause fear. Enemies can cause fear. Horses and chariots give the enemies advantage and intimidation. Having a larger enemy brings dread. But God's command therefore our response is that we would not be afraid of them. The reason we should not be afraid is because the Lord (the God of the Hebrews, the God over all people, the creator, the judge, the ruler of all) your God (a personal God who loved them and cared for them) is with them. Moses reflects back on his the proof of this which is that he brought them out of Egypt. What should cause us fear? Nothing. The God of all Gods who is your God is with you.
Fear God
Deuteronomy 20:1-2 - “When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
God names the things that can cause fear. Enemies can cause fear. Horses and chariots give the enemies advantage and intimidation. Having a larger enemy brings dread. But God's command therefore our response is that we would not be afraid of them. The reason we should not be afraid is because the Lord (the God of the Hebrews, the God over all people, the creator, the judge, the ruler of all) your God (a personal God who loved them and cared for them) is with them. Moses reflects back on his the proof of this which is that he brought them out of Egypt. What should cause us fear? Nothing. The God of all Gods who is your God is with you.
Fear God
Exodus 14:31 -Israel saw the great power that the Lord used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and in his servant Moses.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Day 20 - Deut 18:21-22 & Ex 9:30
Do not Fear
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 - 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
The context of this passage is the coming of the Messiah, the coming prophet who will speak the words of God. The question is then anticipated, "How do we know if the Lord has spoken?" And the reply is if the words do not come true, you do not need to fear or be afraid of him. There have been many false prophets that have come since then, proclaiming when the day of the Lord will come back, teaching different religions and doctrines and teaching things that are evil like witchcraft and demonism, but God reassures us here that there is nothing that can cause fear compared to the power and sovereignty of God. Nothing is greater than God and in him only, need we fear.
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 - 21 And if you say in your heart, ‘How may we know the word that the Lord has not spoken?’— 22 when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.
The context of this passage is the coming of the Messiah, the coming prophet who will speak the words of God. The question is then anticipated, "How do we know if the Lord has spoken?" And the reply is if the words do not come true, you do not need to fear or be afraid of him. There have been many false prophets that have come since then, proclaiming when the day of the Lord will come back, teaching different religions and doctrines and teaching things that are evil like witchcraft and demonism, but God reassures us here that there is nothing that can cause fear compared to the power and sovereignty of God. Nothing is greater than God and in him only, need we fear.
Exodus 9:30 -But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet fear the Lord God.”
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Day 19 - Deut 7:17-23
Deuteronomy 7:17-23 - 17 “If you say in your heart, ‘These nations are greater than I. How can I dispossess them?’ 18 you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt, 19 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out. So will the Lord your God do to all the peoples of whom you are afraid. 20 Moreover, the Lord your God will send hornets among them, until those who are left and hide themselves from you are destroyed. 21 You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God. 22 The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you. 23 But the Lord your God will give them over to you and throw them into great confusion, until they are destroyed.
As Moses is reflecting back on 40 years of God's provision and victory, he implores them to remember... I think remembering what God has done is the first key to believing on Him in the future. To often we don't slow down long enough to remember God and how He has worked for His glory in our lives. I also am encouraged by the detail of how they will take over the land, the details which show God is all powerful and sovereign. The one thing the Israelites are asked to do is not fear. Trust me, He says, and I will do all the rest. Fear me and you will not need to fear.
As Moses is reflecting back on 40 years of God's provision and victory, he implores them to remember... I think remembering what God has done is the first key to believing on Him in the future. To often we don't slow down long enough to remember God and how He has worked for His glory in our lives. I also am encouraged by the detail of how they will take over the land, the details which show God is all powerful and sovereign. The one thing the Israelites are asked to do is not fear. Trust me, He says, and I will do all the rest. Fear me and you will not need to fear.
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