Facing Fear

The prophet Jeremiah spoke God’s word over a period of forty-seven years. The people of Israel came to him and asked him what God said about Nebuchadnezzar, but it was not what they wanted to hear, and they did not do what God said. Because they trusted in their beautiful temple and not God, they chose their ways instead of God’s. Because they disobeyed they were exiled to Babylon for seventy years. A remnant of the people stayed in Judah. The country was destroyed, and the people faced rebuilding and replanting. They were afraid. Some of them said they would go to Egypt. Others inquired of Jeremiah what God wanted for them. Jeremiah said, “This is what the Lord says, the God of Israel to whom you sent me to bring your petition before him: ‘If you will indeed stay in this land, then I will rebuild and not demolish you, and I will plant and not uproot you, because I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought on you. Don’t be afraid of the king of Babylon whom you now fear; don’t be afraid of hm.’ This is the Lord’s declaration–because I am with you to save you and rescue you from him, I will grant you compassion, and he will have compassion on you and allow you to return to your own soil” (Jeremiah 42:9-12). After the people heard what God said, they still decided to go to Egypt, because they were afraid of Nebuchadnezzar.

Why Egypt?

Even after God said, “All who resolve to go to Egypt to stay there for a while will die by the sword, famine, and plague. They will have no survivor or fugitive from the disaster I will bring on them” (Jeremiah 42:17). Why do you think they decided to go to Egypt after hearing what God said? I think they were stuck in their fear. Egypt had been a safe refuge in times past. Mary and Joseph fled there with Baby Jesus when Herod said he would kill all babies under two years old. Jacob fled famine in Israel to go to Egypt to provide for his family. It worked for many years, but Israel was not allowed to worship their God there, and fell into the worship of Egypt’s gods. More than four hundred years passed since Jacob’s son Joseph was governor, and the Pharaoh at that time made slaves of Israel to build cities like Ramses. God sent Moses to rescue His people from slavery, but He would not rescue those who fled to Egypt out of their disobedience.

What Are You Afraid Of?

Fear is like water. It finds the path of least resistance. It became sin for me, and I lived out my favorite song, “Hotel California.” The chorus says, “Welcome to the Hotel California – such a lovely place!” Isn’t that the way sin lures us? Shimmering lights and lovely places. Welcoming voices, fun and dancing. However, everything is not so lovely. The following verses say these things: “We are just prisoners here of our own device” and “You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.” Facing fear of the future, I decided to go my way, as did the Israelites, instead of God’s way, which led to my destruction. It seemed to me that there was no way out. Yet, God was merciful. He reached down and rescued me from despair. I am so glad He did. I have never felt so loved, so blessed. Why did I choose to go through hell on earth? I don’t have an answer, but I can tell you I am glad God met me at my point of need. Today I thank Him for the anxiety and failure I felt, because they are what drove me to Him.

Prayer

Holy God, King of the universe, I pray for those stuck in fear, anxiety and sin. I pray that you meet them at the crossroads of meaningless and meaning. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Provider

Sidon Sea Castle. In Sidon, Lebanon

Zarephath is a city that existed in 800 B.C., located just south of Sidon, Lebanon, then Syria. God sent Elijah to a widow who lived there during a great famine. He found her picking up sticks and asked her for a drink of water and some bread. “As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she said, “I don’t have any bread–only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.”

Elijah said, “Don’t be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land'” (1 Kings 17). And as Elijah said, in 3 1/2 years the widow’s jar of flour did not go empty and the jug of oil did not dry up.

Has there been a time in your life when you lost all hope? You didn’t know how you would feed your family or pay your bills. Maybe you lost your job or your home. Your despair was very much like the widow from Zarephath. Robert Schuller once said, “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.” God provided for the widow in this Bible story. He provided for me too, during times of financial hardship. Friend, God will get you through whatever trouble you experience when you trust Him with all your heart.

Prayer: Father God, I pray for those today who are displaced due to storms or loss of home or work. I pray that they look to you and experience your great love for them; that you provide for their needs. O Lord, give them abundant life as they look to you for help. In Jesus’ name, Amen.