Do not Fear
Joshua 8:1-2 - 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. 2 And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.”
This command to not be afraid comes at an important time for Joshua. A few chapters earlier, Joshua had sent a small band of his army to defeat the city of Ai, but was routed and 36 Israelites died. This was the first time the Israelites had been defeated and Joshua threw himself before the Lord in grief and confusion. The Lord responded to Joshua by telling him to get up and that the reason they were defeated was because someone had sinned. After letting God lead them to the right person, Aachan admitted that he had taken some precious jewelry when he was commanded not to. The consequence of his coveting was huge. But, as a result, with the Israelites now forgiven and holy, they are having a second chance at this city. So, the Lord reminds Joshua to not be afraid or dismayed and literally gives him the brilliant battle plan. Joshua did exactly what the Lord told him to do and it worked well. Sin destroys lives, leads to failure and defeat and causes grief for everyone. The only requirement by God here was to be holy and obedient. What a great encouragement to us this morning that holiness can lead to fearlessness. If we are holy before the Lord, we have nothing to fear.
Fear God
Ex 20:18 - When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance
If only we had this respect for God in every decision and every temptation. Someday we will see with eyes wide open the glory of God and we will fall down before him and worship like the angels in Heaven do, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty who was, who is and is to come..."
Monday, November 12, 2007
Day 27 - Josh 1:9
Do not Fear and Fear God
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
When we think of a verse that will comfort us in our fears, most people come to this one. It again strikes me that all we are commanded to do is to either BE or not to BE... BE strong. BE courageous. Do Not BE frigthened. Do not BE dismayed. It isn't a matter of war or strategy or innovativeness or ingenuity. Joshua is to be strong and he is not to be frightened. That is the extent of the commandment of God. The reason I believe He says this is because when we fear, we are unable to carry out the will of God. Fear paralyzes and gives someone or something more power than God. And the reason, again, that we are to be or not to be is because the LORD (the God of all Gods, the creator, the sustainer, the judge, the most powerful and righteous and Holy one) who is also YOUR God, is with you wherever you go. Again, the character of God is our foundation, our cause and effect, for our well-being. If you are going to fear anything, fear displeasing him, disobeying him, not trusting him or forgetting Him. That should be your biggest concern.
Joshua 1:9 - Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
When we think of a verse that will comfort us in our fears, most people come to this one. It again strikes me that all we are commanded to do is to either BE or not to BE... BE strong. BE courageous. Do Not BE frigthened. Do not BE dismayed. It isn't a matter of war or strategy or innovativeness or ingenuity. Joshua is to be strong and he is not to be frightened. That is the extent of the commandment of God. The reason I believe He says this is because when we fear, we are unable to carry out the will of God. Fear paralyzes and gives someone or something more power than God. And the reason, again, that we are to be or not to be is because the LORD (the God of all Gods, the creator, the sustainer, the judge, the most powerful and righteous and Holy one) who is also YOUR God, is with you wherever you go. Again, the character of God is our foundation, our cause and effect, for our well-being. If you are going to fear anything, fear displeasing him, disobeying him, not trusting him or forgetting Him. That should be your biggest concern.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Day 26 - Deut 31:8
Do not Fear and Fear God
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 - 7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Moses summons Joshua and encourages Him in the sight of all Israel to be strong and courageous. His strength and his courage is found in the Lord who goes before you, he will be with you and he will never leave you... There is no time that God will not be with Joshua, ever. This is just another reason for us to study the character of God. There more we know about him, the more we know Him, the greater our ability to rest in his care, his power and his Will for our life. If we are in fear, we are saying that which we fear has more power that God. The more we consistently mediate on the character of God, the greater our ability to overcome fears in our life. Fear God only and everything else will be rightsized.
Deuteronomy 31:7-8 - 7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. 8 It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Moses summons Joshua and encourages Him in the sight of all Israel to be strong and courageous. His strength and his courage is found in the Lord who goes before you, he will be with you and he will never leave you... There is no time that God will not be with Joshua, ever. This is just another reason for us to study the character of God. There more we know about him, the more we know Him, the greater our ability to rest in his care, his power and his Will for our life. If we are in fear, we are saying that which we fear has more power that God. The more we consistently mediate on the character of God, the greater our ability to overcome fears in our life. Fear God only and everything else will be rightsized.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Day 25 - Deut 31:6
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.
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.
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?
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