It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Fear Not, because GOD
I don’t have as many things to fear as the Israelites entering Canaan did. They were about to cross the Jordan River and start the difficult process of taking the Promised Land. Canaanites were good, well equipped soldiers. Canaanites were cruel, ferocious, and BIG.
And more than that… they were right there physically in front of the Israelites. Canaanites, Sihonites, Mideanites, and ALL the Ites were not just an idea. They were not off there in the future. They were NOT maybe-ites.
If Israel was going to have the Promised Land, something real and practical and scary was in the way.
And Moses was quitting the leadership job! The ONE man they could depend on was retiring. The proven general, the experienced guide, the one who had proved himself over and over again was not going to help them with this next HUGE task.
When Moses tells them, “Fear Not!” he hit the nail on the head.
But look carefully at what Moses says. Yes, Moses is declaring Joshua to be the heir. He was expected people to listen to Joshua, to obey Joshua, to support Joshua.
But Moses doesn’t say, “Fear not, Josh’s a pretty cool guy.”
Moses doesn’t say, “Remember when Joshua held my arms up? Let Josh hold YOU up!”
Moses doesn’t give Joshua’s credentials, resume, or skill list.
Moses says that Jahweh God… the Amighty… the Creator… the King of Kings… the MASTER will never leave you. Even when you are facing giants. Even when you are outnumbered, out arrowed, and out positioned. God will help. He might use Joshua, as He used Moses… but God will help!
And Moses tells us the same thing. Don’t depend on medicine, or Social Distancing, or statistics, or wise leaders, or economic stimuli, or insurance, or caution, or courage, or experience, or science.
Depend on God. He might use any or all of those things. But the best (the only) cure for fear is to remember who God is… and trust Him.
And therefore Fear Not.