No Need To Fear

In Genesis 15, God appears to Abraham in a vision, and God’s first words are, “Fear not!”  God is simply responding to what’s going on in his heart. Abraham was having a sleepless night and he was afraid.

Afraid of what? There were four fears arising from Abraham’s past, common fears that you and I often face in our faith-journey, as well:

First is the fear of “what have I gotten myself into?” Abraham just had publicly humiliated four despots, overthrowing their vast army with a handful of men (Genesis 14:17-24). Dictators don’t take these kinds of humiliating defeats lightly, and no doubt fear of repercussions now griped Abraham’s heart.

When you declare your intentions to put trust in God, the Enemy will sow fear into your heart since he doesn’t take kindly to giving up spiritual territory.

The second is the fear of “what have I just given up?” After defeating these dictators, their archenemy, the king of Sodom, wanted to give Abraham a financial reward. Abraham turned it down, and while the king went back to his palace wealthy, Abraham went back to his tent empty-handed, clinging only to the promise of God.

When you take a stand for God, it is likely that a wave of fear will hit you “square in the faith” as you wonder if trusting in God will be sufficient.

The third is the fear of “have I misunderstood God’s will.” A decade prior, Abraham heard God tell him to leave everything and go to Canaan where he would be given many descendants. That was a real leap of faith since he was 90 and Sarah was 80. Now, he is a centenarian with no kid to show for it.

When you experience a delay between God’s promise and provision, fear that you misunderstood what God actually said will begin to play on your faith.

The fourth fear is “will God act in time, if at all?” In Genesis 12, impatient with God’s promised provision, Abraham took a faith detour to Egypt, apart from God’s plan, looking for human resources to keep him afloat during a famine.

The temptation to flee to “Egypt” is an ever-present danger, playing on a fear that drives you to make things happen for yourself.

So why did God allow the conditions that played on Abraham’s fears? Why didn’t he just immediately provide what he had promised?  And why doesn’t God make things easy for you and me?  Why does he delay?

Here’s why: God always creates the conditions where he can manifest his glory. And you wouldn’t want it any other way. Neither would I!  That’s how faith-testimonies are born! That’s what births spiritual legacies! That’s where Kingdom greatness is forged. It is in the gap between promise and fulfillment that God gives duel encouragement to Abraham—and to us:  “Do not be afraid. I’m your shield, your very great reward.” (Genesis 15:2)

Don’t miss what God has promised: He will be your protector—which means that you are untouchable until God’s work is done. Nothing can touch you except it come by permission of God, who is a living shield around you. Abraham believed that—and it neutralized his fears.  You should believe that, too—it’s the answer to your anxieties!

But God is more than a shield. He says also to Abraham, “I am your very great reward.” God is your greatest treasure, the only genuinely satisfying joy you will ever know, and the experience of God’s presence will be a far richer source of joy than even his promises fulfilled. The New Testament commentary on this passage, James 2:23, says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness…” Then it adds, “and he was called God’s friend.”  Abraham’s greatest reward was the relationship gained, not the results won!

And we never again read of Abraham fear’s, which were neutralized by his sense of God’s presence, God’s friendship and God’s adequacy. The turning point in Abraham’s journey was when he turned his eye from his fears and fixed them upon his Friend.

That will be the critical point in your journey of faith and obedience, too. Turn your eyes from your problem to your Friend, and like Abraham, you, will discover that God is more than adequate.

“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”  ~Oswald Chambers

Reflect and Apply:  What is your greatest fear?  How is your faith being tested?  Where are you waiting for God’s adequate provision?  Turn your focus off these and lock onto your Friend—he is both your shield and your very great reward.