Overcoming Fear -- Day 9 (Deuteronomy 20:8)

Then the officers shall add, "Is any man afraid or fainthearted? Let him go home so that his brothers will not become disheartened too." -- Deut. 20:8

This entire chapter is an instruction manual for "when you go forth to battle gainst your enemies." (v.1) It is important to see that it says "when" and not "if." It is clear that we will all have battles to fight, but that the Lord goes with us into them all. Verses 3 and 4 reaffirm that we are not to fear (as does all of the previously discussed passages in Days 1 - 8), for the Lord our God goes with us to save us.

Verses 5 - 8 give reasons men should turn back. This is not wise from a military standpoint (possibly with verse 8 being an exception), but it weaves in with the confident knowledge that the Lord is fighting for us, so while He honors our labor (2 Chron 15:7), He is still the one who creates the final outcome. We see God refines Gideon's army in a similar fashion. This severe mismatch of forces also ensures that the credit and glory go to God. Whe circumstances are so thoroughly out of control, we cannot think to boast in what is so clearly divine deliverance.

Perhaps the most important thing to see in verse 8 is that fear is contageous. Similar to one's faith being used to protect one another (e.g. the shield of faith in Ephesians 6, also see examples in Haggai 2:4-5, 2 Chron 32: 7-8, and Joshua 1:5 - 9), we see fear in one person can cause fear in another. Conversely though, if one's fearfulness can create fearfulness, courage should create courage, hope create hope, and faith create faith.

In the words of Don Miller, "Sometimes one has to see someone love something in order to know how to love it."

That may be the point, exactly.

Courage - Day 8 (Matthew 14:22-27)

"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It's a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: 'Take courage! I am. Don't be afraid.'" -- Matthew 14:22-27

This passage wraps up the week nicely, with the final verse really driving at some key points. The first thing that really seems to jump out is the symbolism in the story at large. When Jesus comes to His disciples, they are struggling against things totally out of their control -- in this case, it is nature. Jesus came out to them where they were and in the midst of what they were doing. He didn't command them to come to Him once they had things under control, He came to them where they were -- in the middle of a storm.

Despite having spent time with Jesus, they didn't see Him for who He truly was. Both in general, as the Son of God, and specifically in this story, as they thought He was a ghost and they were afraid. They couldn't see Him for who He was, for though He was there to save them, what He was doing was also very unexpected.

The next thing that I appreciate is that Jesus spoke to them "immediately." He didn't wait to keep them frantic, but He spoke to them immediately.

While we have hammered away at "take courage," we must stop to ask ourselves, "what is courage?" The best definition I've heard is that courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the strength and ability to do something in spite of that fear.

"I am" is a powerful reminder that Jesus is God in the flesh. Emmanual. God with us. He is eternal and almighty and He is with us today and always. As mentioned yesterday, the general of angel armies stands readty to war on our behalf.

Finally, "Don't be afraid" merits some discussion. It is not a polite suggestion, but rather a command. We know worry is a sin and that God has not given us a spirit of fear (see 2 Tim 1:7). The fact that it is given by Jesus as a command shows us that (1) it is possible, and (2) it is our choice.

If we accept that God is indeed with us and for us, really, what is there to be afraid of?

Courage - Day 7 (Haggai 2:4-5)

"But now be strong, O Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD. 'Be strong, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,' declares the LORD, 'and work. For I am with you,' declares the LORD Almighty. This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear." -- Haggai 2:4-5

The word used for "be strong" is "Châzaq," again, as discussed in Day 6. Essentially, be strong, take courage, and hold fast. This is very consistent with what has been studied this entire week and we see that God clearly expects us to actually do this! We must be persistent and steadfast to do the things to which God has called us.

He then goes on to command the Israelites to work, consistent with 2 Chron 15:7, where it says our labors are rewarded. So far, nothing terribly new.

"For I am with you, says the Lord of Hosts." (Amplified)

This verse is what I see as being important. I am, signifying the infinite nature and absolute sovreignty of God. Beginning and end, alpha & omega. He is the creator of the universe. I am...with you! Let this sink in.

The weighty and awesome power of our almighty God is with us! He goes on to raise the stakes when He is referred to as the "Lord of Hosts." What one must understand is that this particular phrase is lost on us today. The "host," or Tsâvâ' is a mass of persons or things intended for a military or warfighting purpose. It is applied here in a way that alludes to the angels and celestial bodies of the heavans, formed and equipped to do battle at God's command. It also implies that God (the one who is with us, remember?), is the mightiest of all of the heavanly warriors, to be in command of the host. So essentially, what this verse really is saying: "I, creator of all things, almighty & powerful God, infinite in strength, greatest of warriors, vanquisher of every foe and commanding general of all the angelic armies of heaven, am here to fight for you."

Courage - Day 6 (Psalm 27:14)

"Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord."

Right from the start, this verse says to "wait." We function as instruments of God's will, and by His power do all things happen. This means often they do not happen on our timeline and schedules. Patience is difficult, but necessary. The word used for "wait" is "Qâwâh," which means confident, patient, expectant, hopeful waiting.

Expectant, hopeful waiting is difficult -- it grows patience and is not comfortable. However, the scripture (particularly the Psalms, e.g. 27:1-3; 34; 54; 91; etc.) is full of examples and testimonies of God's faithfulness and how He delivers us. So, as we grow to trust in Him, we should learn to expectantly wait for Him as well. It seems like this would be part of "walking by faith," which was intended by Paul to be so much more than a cliché lyric from a popular worship song. God is real. His word is true. We must believe it and apply it in our lives.

A very constant and reoccuring theme is to be brave and of good courage. The Hebrew word "Châzaq" means to hold fast; conquer, seize, and retain; bind securely; strengthen; take courage. We can do this because we know that God is with us and that He delivers us. So we are to strengthen our hearts and expectantly wait for God. We hold fast to the truth that He will move in our circumstances.

An interesting extension from this verse comes throug examining different translations. In the Amplified it says "let your heart be stout..." which implies several things. First, to "let" something happen suggests we need to give permission. Second, it shows we have some level of control over our heart and its attitude. In comparison, the King James Version provides a little more insight with "He shall strengthen thine heart..." This is a subtle but crucial difference, as it means God is the one strengthening our heart. We must allow God to move in our hearts to strengthen them, and this scripture reveals this is done through patient and expectant waiting upon Him.