Enslaved by Fear

Soon after God delivers the Israelites from Egypt, the most powerful nation in the world at the time, God has Moses send out 12 spies to scout the land that He has promised them. The spies go into the land with full knowledge that this land is given to them by God. One might think that the spies would come back with high hopes and great news... but not in this case. The spies see the forces of a few nations living in their promised land and they become fearful and lose themselves in it. What did they see? They saw fortified cities and strong giants, but why would this dampen their spirits? After all, God promised to give them this land and drive out the other inhabitants. God promises several times to the people, and we see this promise again in Exodus 6:8 (ESV) “I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.” And what did the people do when they heard this message from Moses? Exodus 6:9 (ESV) “Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.”... “Because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery...” Something I too often hear and see, people enslaved to their fears to the point that God is not enough.

Not all of the reports were bad though. Caleb came back with high hopes and a spirit of strength, ready to go into the land God has given them and take it. I love what he says to the people in Numbers 13:30 (ESV) “But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said 'Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are able to overcome it.'” What was different between Caleb and the other spies..? Why wasn't he afraid of the massive cities and giant people..? Why was he so convinced that they could take this land? Because he remembered who gave it to them... He remembered who was on their side... He remembered who was doing the work and who was giving the strength. He remembered who God is and understood that He is capable of so much more than anyone could comprehend. And most importantly... he trusted God.

Just like Moses sent the spies out, God sends us out. He sends us out into places that we don't understand. He sends us into the unknown. And too often we are like the lost and fearful spies. We look at what is ahead of us and see that we cannot do it. And we are right... We can't do it. It is at that point in our realization that we make the wrong decision. We turn tail and run! We let our fear overtake us and we lose our focus, our trust, our opportunity. Just like the Israelites we allow ourselves to be enslaved by our fear. We see what is ahead and God is no longer enough. Just like the Israelites had consequences for their fear, lack of trust and retreat (40 years in the dessert, the beginning of the end of their lives)... Our decisions in our fear, lack of trust and retreat also have consequences.

We need to have a spirit like Caleb's! “For we are able to overcome it.” Not because of our strength, for we have none. Not because of our own righteousness, because it is not good enough, but because God is in control. He promises to get us through the armies of the enemy. He is our strong fortress. Nothing can penetrate Him, and there is nothing He cannot overcome. There is nothing too big for God. There is nothing we cannot do with Him; Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Emphasis added).

So give your fears, your burdens, your worries, your failures, your weakness, your anxieties, your desires, and your life to Him... Put your faith and trust in Him and let Him work great graces in you. For in God we don't have a spirit of fear, but we have a spirit of power (2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”). God loves us and does not wish us to be enslaved to anything but Him, so cast it all on Him (Psalm 55:22 “Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” 1 Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries to God for He cares about what happens to you.”). We find rest and peace in Christ when we give up our burdens (Matthew 11:28-30 “²⁸Then Jesus said; 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and I will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”) Remember: trust in the Lord, for He is bigger than anything and He will always be by your side to help you through everything (Psalm 16:8 “I know the Lord is with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.)