THEY SHOULD NOT SCARE YOU
THEY SHOULD NOT SCARE YOU.
Sometimes we find ourselves in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges and we react in diverse ways. Anxiety, dread, fear and panic are just some of the reactions we express when on the face of it, it does not look good. It has been said often that our very first reaction determines the outcome of the problem. Let us see how some of God’s people responded when challenges came.
Abraham did not consider his advanced age as an obstacle to having a child. God gave him a detailed promise of having a son by Sarah his wife, who was then close to ninety while Abraham himself was close to a hundred. He believed God, though he initially expressed doubt and tried to pass off his son Ismael as the child of covenant. “Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” And Abraham said to God, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” Genesis 17: 17,18, 21 NIV In spite of his initial doubt, Abraham held fast to the promise of God. You see Abraham already had a relationship with God. He knew God. And He knew God would do what He said He would. Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness.
When Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he knew beyond a doubt that he had God’s backing. And so when they got to the Red sea, he did not panic. Rather he gave the Israelites an assurance that they would see God’s salvation. He then stretched out his rod over the Red sea, which parted, and then asked them to walk right over. “The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.” Exodus 14:14-16 NLT
If Moses had panicked when they caught sight of the Egyptians charging towards them, he might have been too shaky or even confused to calm down and talk to God about what to do. Moses had experienced God’s faithfulness at the back side of the desert when God revealed himself as I AM. And just as he had experienced God’s power in the presence of the Egyptians he knew God would be faithful to save them.
Later, Moses sent twelve spies to scout the land of Canaan that God had promised to the children of Israel. Ten of the spies came back with fear and a negative report that resulted in unbelief through out the camp. It was so bad that the Israelites regretted that they had ever left Egypt. “All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness!Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” Numbers 14:2-3 NIV Their attitude was completely defeatist.
Meanwhile, the other two spies had come back with a very favourable report. They said they were able to take the people of Canaan and take their land. Unlike the ten who convinced themselves and the others that they were like grasshoppers before the giants of the land, these two, Caleb and Joshua were not remotely intimidated by the giants. But sadly, the Israelites went with the report of the majority of ten. And what they believed they spoke. And that became their reality. The ten never made it to the promised land.
Joshua was Moses’s assistant while he and Caleb were both loyal to him. They had watched Moses over the years and had learnt a lot from him and his relationship with God. They were also fearless as they had seen God do the impossible many times through their leader and mentor Moses.
Goliath was a giant and a warrior from his youth. His profile was enough to send any opponent into hiding. But not David the son of Jesse: a shepherd boy, who later became the king of Israel.
David did not look at the size of Goliath. He was not fazed. He was not the least bit intimidated by the physique of Goliath. No matter how big the giant was, David knew his God was bigger. Yes his God was definitely bigger than any giant. His God had helped him kill a lion and a bear. He had nothing to worry about the giant.
How many times have we allowed fear and doubt to overcome us instead of trusting in God’s power and promises? How many times do we let nay sayers talk us out of our convictions?How many times did we give up just before God stepped into the situation?
If your answer is never then great for you. But if your answer is in the affirmative, I have come to encourage you today. God is bigger than any challenge we may ever face. I have no idea what you are up against now but please know that God has got you covered.
Do not be intimidated by the size, magnitude or weight of the problem. God is still and always will be bigger than it.
THEY SHOULD NOT SCARE YOU. GOD IS WITH YOU!
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©