The Danger of Fear and the Grace of God

Exodus 3:18 [God speaking]

And they [the elders of Israel] will listen to your voice, and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; 

Exodus 4:1

Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you.’”

Last week we talked about taking our fear before the Lord and trading our “what-if’s” for “even-if’s.” (If you haven’t read that one, go back and read it!) 

This week we’re going to talk about why it matters.

Notice in the passages above that God told Moses directly that the elders of Israel would “listen to his voice.” Then, just a few verses later, Moses says “they will not listen to my voice.”

God had spoken truth directly to his fear, but Moses’ fear blocked his ability to hear it. 

We see the same thing happen with Elijah in 1 Kings 18. When Elijah was coming out of hiding to confront King Ahab, he ran into a man named Obadiah (by divine appointment). Obadiah told Elijah that 100 prophets were still alive because he had hidden them in caves. Then, just a few verses later, we see Elijah tell the people that he is “the only remaining prophet of the LORD.” Furthermore, just a short time later (after Jezebel had threatened to find Elijah and kill him), Elijah said that same thing to God. He said, ”the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I am the only one left, and they are seeking my life as well.” 

The danger of fear is that it can prevent us from hearing truth, even when truth is spoken directly to us. 

But God is so gracious! He doesn't give up on us.

He illuminated their fear so He could eliminate their fear—and they could hear truth. 

And He does the same thing with us. 

For when fear is exposed and eliminated—and we can hear truth—then mighty things can happen in (and through) our lives!

Oh Lord, thank You for your gracious persistence! Help us to have the courage to bring our fears to You so they can be exposed and eliminated—and so we can hear truth. Amen.