Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The Fear Factor

When was the last time you were afraid of someone or something? How did you react?

One time when I came home from a friend’s house, my door was cracked open. I immediately assumed someone had broken in and was inside. I was terrified! Before going inside, I started calling family members in hopes of talking to one of them while I courageously ventured inside to check things out. No one was available to answer their phone, though. I then stopped and remembered that I could talk to God! He knew and could see everything and could help me know what to do more than any relative or friend! After kicking the door wide open, checking out the basement, every closet, and every possible hiding spot, the coast was clear. Apparently, I hadn’t shut the door completely that morning, and it had blown open at some point.

Even godly Abraham reacted irrationally out of fear.  
Genesis 20:1-6  Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, 2 and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. 3 But God came to Abimelek in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.” 4 Now Abimelek had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation? 5 Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she also say, ‘He is my brother’? I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.” 6 Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me. That is why I did not let you touch her.

Back in Genesis 18:10-15, God had specifically told Abraham and Sarah that Sarah would have a son by that same time next year. So, why was Abraham afraid for his life (Genesis 20:11)? Didn’t he trust God to fulfill His promise? And why didn’t he talk to God about his fears? And how was he to have a son through Sarah, if Sarah became Abimelek’s wife??? It’s easy for us to see, since we aren’t in the fear of the moment.

Giving in to fear, Abraham sinned further by lying, encouraging his wife to lie (whether verbally or by example), putting her in danger, putting his own safety above her’s, causing Abimelek to stumble, etc. I love how God stepped in, though, and protected all of them against themselves! God would accomplish His purpose.

How will you and I remember to take our fears to the all-powerful and Sovereign God, so that we don’t react irrationally and cause others to stumble?

Alice

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