Fear can be a powerful emotion. Fear can cause us to stop in
our tracks from moving forward, or it can be a motivating force that inspires
us to lead and take action. It is said that the Bible unapologetically explores
the entire gamut of human emotions, and fear is no exception to this. But what
can we do when we encounter fear? Let us refer to examples found in Scripture
to see not only what Moses, David, and the disciples did, but also the Lord’s actions
within each of their respective situations.
Moses
Following the scene of the burning bush in Exodus 3, God outlines the calling that He has for Moses. After giving excuses in 3:11, 3:13, 4:1, and 4:10, Moses tries one last time to dodge his assignment and asks the Lord to send someone else to help rescue the people of God from the clutches of Pharaoh. Not missing a beat, God responds in 4:14 by saying, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.” Moses was afraid of his circumstances and he was convinced that he was not able to fulfill the task at hand with the skill set he possessed. Nevertheless, God helped Moses overcome his circumstances by recruiting Aaron, who ended up using his strengths to help Moses succeed in the journey that lay ahead.
Following the scene of the burning bush in Exodus 3, God outlines the calling that He has for Moses. After giving excuses in 3:11, 3:13, 4:1, and 4:10, Moses tries one last time to dodge his assignment and asks the Lord to send someone else to help rescue the people of God from the clutches of Pharaoh. Not missing a beat, God responds in 4:14 by saying, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you.” Moses was afraid of his circumstances and he was convinced that he was not able to fulfill the task at hand with the skill set he possessed. Nevertheless, God helped Moses overcome his circumstances by recruiting Aaron, who ended up using his strengths to help Moses succeed in the journey that lay ahead.
David
in 1 Chronicles 13, we see David and the people of Israel moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. In 13:9-10, a man named Uzzah places his hand upon the ark to steady it, and perishes as a result of touching the ark. Here we see David becomes fearful of the incredible power of God, and from this point onward he understands that the transportation of the ark is to be deeply respected. He places it in a temporary location until the Levites are able to secure the ark and escort it the remainder of the way (15:13-15).
in 1 Chronicles 13, we see David and the people of Israel moving the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. In 13:9-10, a man named Uzzah places his hand upon the ark to steady it, and perishes as a result of touching the ark. Here we see David becomes fearful of the incredible power of God, and from this point onward he understands that the transportation of the ark is to be deeply respected. He places it in a temporary location until the Levites are able to secure the ark and escort it the remainder of the way (15:13-15).
Disciples
The death of Jesus was an earth-shattering experience for the disciples. After all, the teacher who they believed was the Messiah had been killed right before their eyes. In John 20:19, we see the disciples are hiding due to their fear of the Jewish leaders. Only something as profoundly miraculous as Jesus being resurrected to life could have transformed the devastated hearts of the disciples, reshaping them into passionate ambassadors of the gospel. Indeed, it was here that a visit from the resurrected Jesus successfully rekindled the faith of the disciples and started to prepare them for the arrival of the coming Holy Spirit.
The death of Jesus was an earth-shattering experience for the disciples. After all, the teacher who they believed was the Messiah had been killed right before their eyes. In John 20:19, we see the disciples are hiding due to their fear of the Jewish leaders. Only something as profoundly miraculous as Jesus being resurrected to life could have transformed the devastated hearts of the disciples, reshaping them into passionate ambassadors of the gospel. Indeed, it was here that a visit from the resurrected Jesus successfully rekindled the faith of the disciples and started to prepare them for the arrival of the coming Holy Spirit.
Circumstances have the potential to strike fear in our
hearts. In each of the aforementioned scenarios, the individuals were unsure of
how they could resolve the issue at hand. As a result, they stood rooted in
their fear, unable to move forward. Yet even in the midst of fear, the Lord
provided resources for each situation. For Moses, God positioned Aaron to perfectly
fill in the gaps that Moses said he couldn’t address. For David, the Lord made
available the Levites who were perfectly suited to be caretakers of the Ark of
the Covenant and who could safely transport it back to Jerusalem. For the
disciples, Jesus visited them personally so that His presence might breathe
life back into His followers’ faith. Whether fear is being stirred in your heart
from this Covid-19 season or from other circumstances that are occurring in
your life, be encouraged. Through the Scriptures, the Lord has shown time after
time that He will provide the required resources we need at the perfect time in
order to address the challenges we encounter in our lives. To God be the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
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