'It's Beginning to Rain'
'The Sword of the Lord'
"Jehovah-shalom" The Lord is Peace
*Isaiah 52:7, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
"Things that go bump in the night; monsters in the closet; walking down a dark alley," all these things bring common ground for fear. Fear is one emotion that we all have in a time of trouble, doubt, and insecurity. It's that sinking feeling that begins in the pit of your stomach and creeps into the the mind causing imaginations of the unspeakable.
Fear of the unknown is the worst fear of all because it tends to consume us, backing us into a corner, uncertain about the next move or step we desire to take. It can cause our brow and hands to sweat, our knees to knock together, our voice to quiver, and our hearts to palpitate to the point of hearing its beat in our inner ear.
Most of all we don't like to talk about our fears. It is something extremely unpleasant and can put a damper on any conversation unless we are sitting in the dark around a campfire. Nevertheless, we all have moments of fear but we can rely on God's word of promise that says, "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind," *II Timothy 1:7. It's understanding and moving on this truth contained in the word of God that is often difficult.
Admitting our fears is one of the major problems in understanding them. Because fear is an unpleasant subject not only to discuss but to think about, admission is the last thing we want to do. Being a coward is not a problem that is easy to live with.
Because the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, the LORD made them subject to the Midianites seven years. So the children of Israel hid in dens in the mountains, which were strong holds, in fear of the multitudes of those who oppressed them.
The Midianites, the Amalekites, and the children of the east destroyed the crops and left nothing for Israel to eat. They also took their sheep, their oxen, and their donkeys. They came with their cattle and their tents in multitudes and they entered the land to destroy it. Israel became impoverished because of the Midianites. Then the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.
Now God sent an angel to Ophrah and he sat down under an oak tree where Gideon was threshing wheat by a winepress to hide it from the Midianites. The angel revealed himself to Gideon and said, "The LORD is with you mighty man of valor." Then Gideon said, "My Lord, if the LORD is with us, why is this happening? Where are all His miracles our fathers told us of telling us He brought us up from Egypt? The Lord has forgotten us and given us up to the Midianites." So the LORD looked at him and said, " Go and you will save Israel from the Midianites because I have sent you." Gideon responded, "Oh my Lord, how shall I save Israel? My family is poor, and I am the youngest in my family."
So Gideon prepared a goat, unleavened cakes, and broth for the man who spoke to him. Then the angel instructed him to place the goat and cakes on a rock and to pour out the broth. Then the angel of the LORD touched the offering with the end of his staff and fire came out of the rock consuming it. Then the angel departed. When Gideon realized that he actually was an angel of the Lord he became afraid for his life. But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Fear not. You will not die." Then Gideon built an altar for the LORD and called it Jehovahshalom.
God required Gideon to do what seemed impossible. "Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod: so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place," (*Judges 7:1-7.)
Even though Gideon feared he obeyed all that the Lord commanded him. God ministered peace to Gideon and gave him the boldness to step out in faith. He became a great warrior for God and judged the nation of Israel. For forty years there was peace in the nation of Israel but, after his death, the nation once again forgot the Lord and served other gods.
The course of our lives can often lead us into difficult areas where we are asked to do something that we are not quite sure of the outcome. What appears to be impossible or a hard task to do can cause us to become afraid. We seem to find a multitude of excuses for not being able to accomplish what is required of us. Like Gideon, we can use excuses such as, "I don't have the money." "I'm just not old enough or mature enough to accomplish this task."
Gideon was afraid and because of his fear the Lord gave him a sign each time Gideon requested it until he grew in his faith. Signs that the hand of God was with him working miracles before he step forward in faith. God put a sword in Gideon's hand and he became a mighty warrior for God.
When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush he also felt that he could not accomplish the task set before him; but the Lord said to him, "What do you have in your hand?" Being unsure of our ability to accomplish a task set before us can often cause fear. Fear of the unknown because we doubt our capabilities. But the Lord has said, "What do you have in your hand?" Often this seems to be nothing. Simply flesh and blood and an empty palm. But your hands can become the greatest instruments of power in a time when they are needed the most. Praying hands that can become instruments of healing, strength, and comfort, leading others when they are fearful or in doubt.
There is a God in heaven Who can provide you with what you have need of at the exact moment you need it. If He is calling you, leading you into an area where you fear you are not capable of accomplishing the task set before you He is able to supply what you need. God never calls us to do anything without equipping us with the tools necessary to get the job done.
Is He calling you into an area of ministry you feel you are unable to accomplish? Pray, seek Him first, and He will minister peace and give you the boldness to do what He knows you are capable of doing. God will never ever lead you into an area and then dessert you. He will go before you and prepare the way. Follow in His footsteps. He will carry the burden and give you favor and the power you need to accomplish the task.
God will never leave you nor forsake you. So put your faith and trust in Him. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything you need will be added to give you the boldness to step out in faith.
O Eyes to see, ears to hear, and a willing heart brings great comfort to a friend in need. But when it is an enemy we sometimes have difficulty seeing, or hearing, or loving. Especially when that enemy leaves destruction and slavery in its wake.
*March 4, 2006