Then the Lord said to Noah, “Go into the ark, you and all your household, (Genesis 7:1 ESV)
Fear Not… Then Obey
Little Jacob had been hit by the pitched baseball the last time he was up to bat. He did not want to stand in the batter’s box again. But I sat down with him and said some encouraging words. Eventually he stood up. He declared that he was not afraid. He looked me in the eye and repeated the coaching commands I had pushed that week.
“Lean on the back foot. Grip the bat firmly. Swing with my waist.”
And he hit a home run, his first of many.
Obedience is not respected these days. Many folk think of obedience as doing something we do not really want to do. But actually, Noah knew that obedience is something we get to do when we are no longer afraid.
God’s coaching words are more important than mine were. And the instructions God gave to Noah were not useless commands, meant to test Noah. They were telling Noah the right thing for Noah to do.
Get in the ark.
When fear is gone, we do not need to feel lost or insecure. God has told us what to do. Choose actions that enable you to love God, and others. Choose actions that build up, and not destroy. Choose actions that come from your relationship with Jesus, and not from your self-focus.
Fear Not, then obey.