Surprises and Hope

He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15 ESV)

Surprises and Hope

Adam and Eve had a lot of surprises that day. The plans to be like God did not quite work out the way they had figured. We are surprised when that happens to us, too.

They got caught in their disobedience. We are surprised when we are caught, too.

They found out who they now were. Their rebellion was revealed. Their physical nakedness no longer symbolized their innocence. It now symbolized their shame. We are surprised when our true selves are displayed, too.

Those surprises could have combined to cause permanent shame, fear, and despair. But God does not leave Adam and Eve in their hopeless estate.

Before He even pronounces His righteous judgment, God gives Adam and Eve hope.

Hope, here, is not reasonable. Adam and Eve had broken the one rule of the garden. They could expect that God would destroy everything and start over.

The resulting effects of their rebellion (which Adam and Eve had not yet heard) show how serious the situation was. Everything is broken now. Adam’s future work would be hard. Horribly hard. The future of the human race, as we see through God’s declaration of the danger of childbirth, was not rosy.

But God gives the gift of hope to Adam and Eve. God tells them that the serpent’s head would be crushed. A time would come, after creation, civilization, and individuals would suffer, when evil would lose. Or said better, good would triumph.

How? Adam and Eve did not know. When? Adam and Eve did not know. Why? Adam and Eve did not really even know that.

But God gives them hope. Hope that was fulfilled when Adam and Eve’s descendant crushed the serpent’s head from the height of the cross.

Our rebellion, sin, and sin’s effects give us shame, fear, and despair, too.

And in Christ Jesus, God offers us that same hope. No matter how bad today is.

Take the Hope God offers.

Surprises and Faith

This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Genesis 2:23 ESV)

Surprises and Faith

In the woods of central Mississippi, we were pursued ten miles by a UFO. As we drove, it followed us through every speed adjustment and every turn. Where we went, the bright light went.

But neither DeAnne nor I were really surprised. I was unsurprised because I knew down deep in my toes that UFO’s exist. But DeAnne was unsurprised because she knew that they do not.

She was right. We eventually realized it was the moon.

Surprises, whether good or bad, are modified by our past experience and knowledge.

Eve was a surprise. Adam had explored the Garden of Eden and had examined and studied every living creature that God had made. He even, with God, named everything that lived.

He had seen it all. He understood it all.

But he had never seen anything like Eve.

I used to quip that when God brought Eve to Adam, Adam must have said, “Woah, man!”

But while he was probably surprised, Adam knew God. Adam had worked with God. Adam had talked with God. Adam had spent time with God. Adam’s experience and knowledge helped him weather the surprise.

But it could not have been enough. God must have helped supernaturally. Without faith given by God, Adam would still be standing in the Garden, jaw agape.

Adam’s proclamation displays Faith. God enabled Adam to realize that this amazing Eve was exactly what Adam needed (and Adam was exactly what Eve needed, too.)

He sees her… and the faith that God gives him lets Adam see that even though he is surprised, curious, insecure, and maybe a little afraid… Adam can say, “at last she is here! She is what I need.”

Our world surprises us. Events do not happen as we predict. Results are not what we expect.

But God will give you faith. You know Him. You have worked with Him. You have talked with Him. Do not be overwhelmed by surprise.

Take the faith God offers.

Time and Love

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (John 15:9 ESV)

Time and Love

My first best friend watched and enjoyed Star Trek. We were two boys in elementary school who enjoyed watching Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock fly around the universe, and the rest of our school thought we were odd. Well, we were.

But having someone on my side made all the difference. When other students rolled their eyes and teased… Dave and I could still relax. We were not alone.

That is what love does. When we are loved, we are not alone.

But what is so great about love? Why does Paul tell us that, “faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love?” (I Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

Part of the answer lies in time. Faith helps us because faith gives us a secure past. Hope helps us because it gives us a secure future. But Paul calls love the best of the three, perhaps because we are loved and we love now.

While we probably remember past acts of love fondly… and we probably look forward to loving in the future… love is best experienced, understood, and performed right now.

Jesus points this out when He tells us to abide in love. We abide in the present tense. We do it now.

Further. unlike Faith and Hope, which work only as unique gifts from God in one direction, love as a gift from God works in two ways. We have faith in God. We have hope in God. But God both loves us, and we love Him.

It is hard to understand how that works, and so love is often viewed as a mystery. But it really is not. We are granted love (both in our ability to give it, and our opportunity to receive it) as a supernatural gift.

And love is the answer to most of our problems.

We will be looking (as part of a three-day cycle) at the love described, defined, and demonstrated in God’s Word. Love basks in the middle of faith and love. Love, supernaturally given to us, lets us understand who God is. Love looks around at the here and now and sees God’s unconditional love acted out, God’s choice to be with us now, and God’s permanent relationship with His people today.

Time and Hope

…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (I Peter 3:15 ESV)

Time and Hope

If Faith is founded on the past, Hope obviously is founded on the future. We do not hope for yesterday, we hope for tomorrow. Hope happens when we consider the paths ahead of us and know that the road ahead is grand.

Hope is also founded on God. Because we have relationship with the One True Living God, we lean on Him to understand what is going to happen. His amazing grace and astounding goodness assure us that our future glows.

We often are able to find a kind of hope on our own. Experience guides our expectations. Most of us reading this devotional live in a resource-rich nation, in caring communities, among loving family and friends. And so when trouble happens, we reasonably assume and expect peace, prosperity, and success. That is certainly hope.

Problems arise, and we logically analyze our situations. We often arrive intellectually and emotionally at hope rather than despair.

But not always.

For instance, in times of war, or political upheaval, or illness, or pandemic, or recession, or depression, or loss, or worry, or fear… hope is sometimes hard to come by.

Biblical hope is different than the kind of hope we usually find. Our common hope is logical but unsure. It is optimistic but not absolute. It is helpful, but not completely reliable.

God knows this. He knows that we live in the material world, locked in our time stream, without His omniscience or omnipresence.

So He grants us another supernatural gift, alongside Faith. Instead of mere hope, He gives His people HOPE.

Tethered to God through Christ, we know without any reason for doubt that heaven is the end result of Christians’ lives. We know it not merely by logic (although it is logical,) not merely by analysis (although it does make sense,) not merely by cheerful disposition (although our disposition is connected to our hope.) We know it because God offers our hearts to be filled with HOPE.

HOPE is a gift from God, given because He knows that we are unsure on our own…. Because He knows that we think more about the unknown future than anything else… Because we are prone to sinful worry, sinful fear, sinful doubt, and sinful self-focus. HOPE is the best solution to those problems.

We will be looking (as part of a three-day cycle) at the HOPE described, defined, and demonstrated in God’s Word. HOPE looks towards the future and sees God’s answered promises, God’s continued presence, and God’s permanent relationship with His people.

HOPE breeds security when we are afraid. HOPE breeds certainty when the future is seems unsure. HOPE breeds comfort when we hurt. HOPE breeds faith. Faith breeds love.

Time and Faith

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV)

Time and Faith

All three of our words (faith, hope, and love) have been kidnapped by society and in a sort of Stockholm Syndrome reaction, taken on meanings other than how God’s Word uses them. Today, faith seems to mean irrational thinking. Today, faith seems to mean foolishness. Today, faith seems to mean naivety.

But faith is a lot better than that.

Humans have two ways to know things. We know things that we have learned through our senses, or logically deduced. We generally call that, ‘reason.’ Reason is a good thing… part of the way God created us to understand and interact with our universe.

And we know things that we have learned outside of our senses. We generally call that, ‘faith.’ Faith is a good thing… but we do not arrive at it naturally. The only way to have faith is to have God give it to us.

Perhaps what the world calls, ‘faith,’ is reasonable for them. Because they have not received the gift of faith, when Christians describe our faithful understanding, it seems like irrationality, foolishness, or naivety.

But it is not.

Faith, as a supernatural gift granted to us by God, generally refers to things in the past. The author of Hebrews connects faith with things like creation. No human saw creation. But the author of Hebrews knows that God created the heavens and the earth. He knows this through faith.

We use something LIKE faith to understand things quite a lot. We have a sort of faith that our birth-date is accurate. We were not there. But we believe that the birth certificate tells us the truth. We have a sort of faith that electricity lit our light bulbs yesterday. We can not see the electrons riding copper wires. But we believe that Edison and Tesla were correct. We have a sort of faith that the milk we purchase at Leaker’s has an accurate use-by date. We did not see it come from Bessie. We did not see it processed. We did not see it shipped. But we drink it.

But actual faith is more important than those daily faiths.

Actual faith is the God-given ability to know that God IS real, God IS present, God IS involved, God IS in charge, God IS what He says He is.

We will be looking (as part of a three-day cycle) at the faith described, defined, and demonstrated in God’s Word. Faith looks at the past and sees God’s strength, God’s presence, and God’s connections to His people.

Faith breeds security when we are afraid. Faith breeds certainty when things do not make sense. Faith breeds comfort when we hurt. Faith breeds hope. Faith breeds love.

Our Superpowers

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

Our Superpowers

When I was much younger, I used to go to bed after Christmas Day and ponder my presents.  I would attempt to rate them, evaluate them, and rank them.  I was not very successful.  I simply liked them all, usually.  Other than the socks.

We as God’s people have three fearsome enemies:  the flesh, the world, and Satan.  Each of these enemies are able, fierce, and effective.  But God defends us with faith, hope, and love.

We as God’s people, though forgiven and redeemed, struggle constantly against sin and sin’s effects.  Sin taints our thoughts, our words, and our deeds.  But God arms us with faith, hope, and love.

We as God’s people have wounds from the past, pains in the present, and worries about the future.  While God is timeless, we are chained to yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  But God frees us with faith, hope, and love.

Faith, hope, and love are our superpowers. 

But I fear we confuse them, lack understanding about them, and hardly use them practically. 

Our ‘superpower instruction manual,’ also known as the Bible, is filled with descriptions, directions, and encouragements concerning the Big Three.

In rotation, it is my intention to continue the “Fear Not” process by examining what Scripture has to say about Faith one day… Hope the next day… and Love the day after that.  And then rinse, repeat, and recycle.  Although I might cycle them week by week rather than day by day… please let me know how you think it is going.

Starting Monday, I hope we will enjoy and be encouraged and be challenged by God’s Word speaking about our superpowers.

Faith, Hope, and Love

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

Life is difficult… for now.

We have so many reasons to be afraid. We struggle against God’s enemies: the flesh, the world, and Satan. (Ephesians 2:1-3) We fight against the Old Man that still grasps our very hearts. (Colossians 3:9) The effects of sin in the created world breed tragedy and pain. (Romans 8:20-22)

But on the other side of the equation of our life, God answers our fears with His help. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit stand against all the enemies, pain, struggles, worries, sins, and sins effects of this broken life. We are not alone.

God also gives internal help. He enables us. He strengthens us. He transforms us.

Often we misunderstand Scripture’s descriptions of that help. Rather than see that God gives gifts, we think He is giving commands.

The armor of God… the fruit of the Spirit… the beatitudes… and even the ten commandments are not so much further requirements that we are unable to perfectly meet as they are God-given tools, God-granted abilities, God-given weapons, and God-given places to stand.

We can stand in the fight because God gives His people more appropriate armor than Saul tried to give David. (I Samuel 17:38) We can endure the effects of Adam’s sin (and ours) because God gives His people protections, defenses, and hopes. (Genesis 3:21) We can withstand the terrible tumultuous storms of yesterday, today, and tomorrow because God has given us what He knows we need (Genesis 7:16)

We do not like to receive gifts. We like to think we earn what we have. We like to depend on ourselves rather than something greater, or higher, or richer than ourselves. We think we can make it on our own.

How’s that working out for you?

The grace of the gospel extends beyond Justification and covers sanctification, too. God is THE active element in every single tiny and huge aspect of our lives. But He does not just wave His fingers and make things happen.

He gifts us. He enables us. He grants us. He does for us by doing through us.

But it is not us… it is Him.

Paul describes three gifts from God that we traditionally have misunderstood in this way.

When struggling and hurting and fighting and experiencing life, God gives us three gifts. He gives us Faith. He gives us Hope. He gives us Love.

These three are not simply things we are required to DO.

These three are things that He covers us with, fills us with, strengthens us with, grows us with, helps us with, and even saves us with.

Three abide. Faith, Hope, and Love.

Fear Not

Fear Not!

Christians are afraid. But we do not have to be. In fact, we should not be afraid at all. Of anything.

In God’s Word, He tells us around 35 times (depending on your choice of translation and context) to not murder. So most Christians try to avoid murdering.

In God’s Word, He tells us over 25 times (again, depending on your choice of translation and context) to tell the truth. So most Christians aim at honesty.

But somehow, when it comes God’s statements about fear, we do not seem to pay attention to what He says.

God has made it quite clear in Scripture that fear is not an option.

Yet we are afraid. We argue about what our most common fears are, without noticing that we should not be afraid at all. We fear, and explain our unique situation, claiming that WE have something to be afraid of. We confess our selfishness, our cruelty, and our social sins, but we do not seem to see that being afraid is disobedience.

The Bible does not contain 365 commands to “fear not.” I, too, wish that it did. How perfect an illustration that would be! But God does tell His people over 100 times to not be afraid, fear not, stop being afraid, avoid fear, or have courage instead of fear.

Today, many voices grab our attention and point out the reasons for fear. Social media screams, “fear.” The news lists the threats that attacked us yesterday, the dangers of the present, and the reasons to worry about tomorrow. Our conversations center around troubles and problems, and are not only spiced by fear, but fear is the main course.

And fear is understandable. Fear seems rational. Scary things ARE all around us.

When God says, “Fear not,” He is not claiming there is nothing to be afraid of.

He is saying that we know better reasons not to be afraid.

In 2020 Christians seem more afraid than pagans. We join with the world in our fears of Covid-19 and an economic crisis. And we add a fear of Government Overreach to the mix. We might fear God’s wrath. We might fear a Biblically cataclysmic end of the world.

We have so many reasons to be afraid.

And the Bible does not deny that. In fact, the Bible points out MORE reasons to be afraid. The Bible describes powerful and deadly enemies that attack, haunt, and hate God’s people. God’s enemies (the flesh, the world, and Satan) are worse than a virus, being broke, and climate change.

But if you are afraid, you can know absolutely that what you are feeling does not come from God. II Timothy 1:7 is quite clear. God does not give us a spirit of fear. Fear never comes from Him.

Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is somehow doing the next right thing in spite of fear. Ignoring or denying the power of a fearful thing is naïve.

God tells us to not be afraid because if we know, understand, and believe Him, we know He is bigger, more powerful, and more in control than anything we fear.

So what can we do to get rid of fear?

Listen to God. Counter the cacophony of fear-inducing noises with His calming and true voice. And His voice is most clear in the Bible.

We have just finished surveying 105 examples of God’s soothing words. He says, “fear not,” through the prophets, narrators, poets and speakers in the Bible.

Fear not!

Fear Not... the Final Verse

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. (II Corinthians 32:7,8 ESV)

Hezekiah said these words after preparing for war. He spoiled the wells along the Assyrian army’s path. He fixed broken walls and built new towers where Assyria was expected to attack. He forged weapons and shields in abundance. He re-organized the Judean army including militia and new commanders.

He did not do those things to bring courage to Judah.

He did not do those things to help the people of God not be afraid.

He prepares for war because Hezekiah already is not afraid.

Hezekiah’s confidence comes from his trust in God. He knows that the king of Assyria only flesh and blood on his side, but Judah has God. The king of Assyria has a few other armies on his side, but Judah has God’s help. The king of Assyria has his horde, but Judah has God’s angel-armies.

Because Hezekiah is not afraid, he can do his job. Somewhere on Hezekiah’s job description it reads, “prepare for war.” And so he does.

That preparation does not give him courage, it comes from his courage. Doing his job does not inspire his people, it comes from his inspiration. His work does not distract him from fear, overcome his fear, or smother his fear. His work is possible because Hezekiah is not afraid.

Physical things do not defeat fear. Pacing, craftwork, exercise, hand-wringing, and meals are all fine things… but they do not defeat fear.

Our eyes will only stop seeing fear when we look towards God. Our hearts will only stop drumming in fear when our hearts are filled with His Spirit. Our words will only stop being fearful when our words profess Christ.

Fear is solved spiritually. Then there can be physical results.

Fear not, because God will enable you by removing your fear.

Fear Not, Because We Are God's People

Stay with me; do not be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safekeeping. (I Samuel 22:23)

Maybe math in the Bible is easier than math outside the Bible. At least when it comes to politics, alliances, and teams.

Our eyes see a range of groups around us. Libertarians, neo-conservatives, old-style liberals, fiscal conservatives, isolationists, moderates, globalists, social liberals, socialists, communists, and extreme fanatics of political flavors all clamor for our attention. If we were an ice-cream shoppe, we would have more choices than Baskin-Robbins.

But in God’s eyes, there are only two groups. Perhaps different terms are used for those groups, but God’s math here is quite simple. We are either for God, or against Him.

Sometimes we might label one group Christian, God-followers, His People, the Redeemed, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Non-Denominationalists, or Citizens of the Kingdom. Sometimes we might label the other group nominal Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Pagan, New-Age, Pagan, Secular, or nothing at all.

But David had learned that all groups fit into those two divisions. We are either for God, or against Him.

Saul had added to his enemies by assassinating a family of priests. One son, Abiathar, escaped and found his way to David’s camp. David knew that Saul had killed the priests in revenge for their support of David.

And so, even though Abiathar earlier had not joined David’s team, David offered protection… God’s protection… to the fleeing young man.

David, and now Abiathar, knew that only two divisions exist. We are either for God, or against Him.

Today those same divisions are also all that matter.

Those who are not on God’s side have many true reasons to fear.

But those who are God’s side, can count on God’s protection, because He fights on the side of His people. He defends His people. He is on our side, as we are on His.

Fear not, because we are on God’s side.

Fear Not, Because of the Cross

But the Lord said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have given him into your hand, and all his people, and his land. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.” (Numbers 21:34 ESV)

There was a small country town west of where I lived (and coached) in South Dakota who always fielded an undefeatable football team.  They were repeatedly State champions.  They were the standard of what football teams aspired to be.

They were the Ranchers.  And we were not.

But I often imagined (in the first five minutes of the annual football game) what it would be like to defeat them.  Not only would THAT day be amazing, but from then on, we would remember when the Ranchers fell.

A bad tornado is coming?  Yeah, but remember when we beat the Ranchers!

Taxes are going up? Maybe so, but remember when we beat the Ranchers!

Our favorite politician lost the election? So… remember when we beat the Ranchers!

Stubbed your toe? Have a cold? Lost five dollars? Ran out of gas? Missed a deadline? Forgot a friend’s birthday?  AHHHH…. But remember when we beat the RANCHERS!

Sihon, King of the Amorites must have been like the Ranchers.  When God brought Israel to military victory over King Sihon, they never forgot it.

That victory is mentioned TWENTY-THREE times afterwards!

And usually, as a reason to not be afraid of whatever trouble God’s people were facing.

Are you afraid?  Remember Sihon!

The fall of Sihon, King of the Amorites probably does not bring that encouragement to you.  I suspect most of us would not be able to point to his kingdom on a map… describe his previous accomplishments… or recognize his face on a postage stamp.

But there is an event that is even bigger than Sihon’s defeat.

When you are afraid, or facing troubles, or starting to worry, or think something BIG is coming…

You don’t have to remember Sihon.

Remember the cross.

The defeat of sin.  The defeat of sin’s effects.  The defeat of death.  The defeat of every sorrow, every tear,  every pain, every failure, every mistake, every falsehood, every terror, every problem.

Fear not, because of the CROSS.

Fear Not, Because of God's Will

And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Saul my father also knows this.” (I Samuel 23:17 ESV)

Compare Jonathan and Saul. Both men could see what God was doing regarding David. Both men could see that David was a man after God’s own heart (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) Both men knew that Saul’s kingship was over, and David’s kingship was coming.

But Jonathan and Saul reacted in different ways. Saul saw God’s favor on David and acted like Cain. Jonathan saw God’s favor on David and acted like… well, like Jonathan.

Jonathan discerned what God was up to and got in line with Him. Jonathan’s acceptance of God’s Willwas costly to Jonathan. Jonathan’s acceptance of God’s Will caused humiliation to Jonathan. Jonathan’s acceptance of God’s Will could have resulted in a rift with Jonathan’s beloved best friend.

But instead, by accepting God’s Will, Jonathan found peace, hope for Israel, love with David, and rejection of fear.

Not only for himself… but he was able to help David get rid of fear.

When Jonathan tells David to not fear, Jonathan is really telling David that God’s Will is strong, good, exciting, and worth clinging to.

It is for us, too.

Fear not, because of God’s Will.

Fear Not, Because God is on the Side of His People

When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, (Deuteronomy 20:1 ESV)

War is always scary. When Moses tells Israel to not be afraid if they go to war, he is speaking of a an extremely likely emotional reaction. Israel was not yet the mighty nation of David’s time. Israel had not yet been established as the powerhouse of the Middle East. Israel did not yet have an army of Joshua’s ninja fighters, David’s Mighty Men, or Solomon’s trained charioteers.

If Moses’ Israel went to war, they would be out-numbered, out-skilled, out-trained, and out-experienced. Israel would be wielding sticks and stones, and their enemies would be wielding swords, spears, and horse-hooves.

It would be reasonable for the warring Israelites to be afraid.

But Moses knows what he is talking about. First, any war during Moses’ (or Joshua’s) time would be a war commanded by God. God would accomplish His goals. Israel had nothing to fear.

Second, perhaps because the Israelites would be fighting under a disadvantage, those Israelites would be fighting in faith. And God honors faith.

Third, Moses understood that whether the Israelites had more or less soldiers than the enemy… more or less weapons than the enemy… more or less training than the enemy… more or less fighting-reputation than the enemy… It is always God who wins.

And that is Moses’ point. God always wins.

So the best way to avoid fear in the conflict of our lives is to be on God’s side.

Fear not, because God is on the side of His people.

Fear Not, Because of God's Favor

And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (Luke 1:30 ESV)

Mary was a young woman with plenty of things to fear.  She did not know it yet, but shunning was coming.  Her community was about to shun her. (She was pregnant outside of marriage.)  Her immediate family was about to shun her. (She was pregnant and sullying her family’s good name.)  Her fiancé was about to shun her. (She was pregnant, and NOT from anything to do with noble Joseph.) 

But God cut all that shunning off at the pass.

The FIRST words of the angel were, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28 ESV) If God is with her, who can be against her? (Romans 8:31) Nothing that Mary is about to be afraid of is worth fearing.

Mary could have sought favor with Joseph… or her family… or the community at large.  But why?  The angel knew EXACTLY what she needed to hear.  She already had found favor with God.

So Mary listened.  With the faith of a child, she accepts this shocking news of her pregnancy.  In the end, she responds, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38 ESV)

We sometimes find it hard to accept, but the angel’s words to Mary can also be said to us.  Because of Christ, God finds favor with us, too.

Not because we are already holy, or wise, or clever, or cute, or pleasant, or in the right groups.  But because of God’s grace.  Which ADDS to the security of God’s favor, because keeping it is therefore not dependent on us, either. 

Fear not, because of God’s favor.

Fear Not, Because Shame is Forgotten

Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. (Isaiah 54:4 ESV)

Isaiah refers to shame twice because there are two kinds of shame. We feel shame for our circumstances, and we feel shame for our actions.

Our Redeemer abolishes both.

First, Isaiah mentions widowhood as a circumstance that often (inappropriately) brought shame in Israel. The poor, the homeless, the destitute, those without family were looked at with scorn. In the book of Acts, THIS is why deacons were established. To help those in ‘shameful’ circumstances. But not just for the sake of Social Justice.

Isaiah declares that our Redeemer removes shame from our circumstances. Perhaps because in Christ, we realize that our circumstances are always God’s work in our lives for our own good. Perhaps because Christians are blessed by God, even if such blessings are harder to discern than our unpleasant circumstances imply. Perhaps because our present circumstances, hard OR easy, are always and suddenly cause for contentment, and not for shame or pride.

But because of our sovereign loving Redeemer, there is no shame in circumstance.

Second, Isaiah mentions the shame of our youth. Our earlier irresponsible and immature actions done in foolishness rather than wisdom. Isaiah might be thinking of Psalm 25:7, where the Psalmist speaks of the sins of our youth. But not merely the shame of long ago. Our shame for our immature actions can find root yesterday, too.

Christians remember our sins and feel ashamed.

BUT… and this is huge… Isaiah tells us that our shame is forgotten by God… and can be forgotten by US, too!

Shame that reminds us of the glorious Grace of our Redeemer is a good thing. But shame that causes us to fear is not. It is not necessary since our Redeemer took that shame on Himself. It is inaccurate because GOD has forgotten, how dare we recall? It is gone in every important aspect of reality, except sometimes our minds.

In Christ, there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Fear not, because shame is forgotten.

Fear Not, Because of Our Redeemer

And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you ask, for all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. And now it is true that I am a redeemer. (Ruth 3:11,12 ESV)

Boaz saw Ruth and understood her fear.  She was unrooted, unprotected, and unnoticed.  A gleaner from the edge of life’s field.  A widow in a family of widows. 

More than most, Ruth had reason to be afraid.   A foreigner in a land of prejudice.  Husbandless in a society structured on the marriage vow. A gentile in a land of the covenant.

And Boaz helped her.  He accepted the role of redeemer.  He risked his own reputation to establish Ruth’s.  He risked his own family to bring Ruth into a family.  He risked his possessions to provide for Ruth’s physical needs.

And Boaz tells Ruth why.  Ruth was a worthy woman.

More than that, Boaz claims that Bethlehem Ephrathah all know of her worth.

Was she an especially good harvester, after only one day?  Was she already known for her wisdom, for her righteousness, for her kindness?  Was she a good dresser? A smiling face?  Those things were not what Boaz meant when he called Ruth, “worthy.”

Probably one thing was known by the whole town.  She was a goyim, from Moab of all places… who had chosen God.  She had said this to her Mother-in-law: “For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”  (Ruth 1:16 ESV)

Ruth was worthy because Ruth was a God-fearer.  Ruth had chosen the One True Living God.  THAT news had spread through town like wildfire.

So Boaz knew that Ruth had nothing to fear.

Not because Boaz would be her practical redeemer.  But because Ruth had a Redemer.

And so do we.  Boaz and Ruth looked forward to a mysterious Redeemer that they barely understood.  But we know Who He was, and is, and will be.

Fear not, because of our Redeemer.

Fear Not, Because of Salvation

But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” (Judges 6:23 ESV)

I had a sinful morning.  Throughout the day, a selfish reaction had been burrowed in my heart, and I kept nurturing it… building on it… and maybe even enjoying it.  I realize now that God had given me opportunities and reminders to love instead of to grudge… but I ignored Him.  He had been present, urging me towards peace, HIS peace.  But I was far too comfortable in my old man clothes.

And then He did something amazing.  An act of loving-kindness that demanded my attention, and shouted, “I AM GOD AND I LOVE YOU.”  I was so very, very, very aware of His presence.  And while the joy was inescapable, I also was freshly and overwhelmingly aware of my sinful morning.

And for a moment, I was afraid.

His presence reminded me of who I am.  And I was ashamed, disgusted, and in awe of Him.

And in that moment, I remembered this verse.  I had been mulling over it for a few days in the back of my mind.  Gideon, one of the weakest judges, encountered an angel, right after Gideon’s most sin-filled time.  He had doubted God.  He had tested God.  He had pushed God.  And God finally made His presence absolutely clear by sending an angel.

And Gideon responded like me.  He was afraid.

God said, through that angel, “Fear not.”

God offered peace.  Not rationally derived, logically deduced, carefully worked out peace… but God peace.  Elsewhere referred to as the peace that passes understanding. (Philippians 4:7)

The angel told Gideon that he will not die.  Those words echoed down to Jesus’ similar encouragement to Martha. (John 11:25) Fearful expectation of the worst event is overcome by God’s peace.

Peace comes, no matter what we fear, from God’s peaceful presence. 

How, exactly?  God reminded Gideon that Gideon was saved.  Gideon was a child of God, despite his sin, his rebellion, his doubt, and his fear.   Because of the way that God saves, Gideon had nothing to fear.  Not God’s punishment, not God’s wrath, not even God’s Holy Presence.  Not even death.

Remember that when you are afraid.  Even when afraid of God Himself.

Fear not, because of salvation.

Fear Not, Because You Have a Crown

Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10 ESV)

A crown can be something that symbolizes royalty, membership in a particular noble family. A crown can be the highest point of something, like the pinnacle of a mountain. A crown can be the best of something: a crowning achievement.

Jesus promises the crown of life to the church in Smyrna, as a reason for them to not be afraid.

What is He promising?

The good results of belonging to Christ take place both eternally in heaven AND right here, right now, right around us. Paul mentions both of these aspect of blessings in I Corinthians 15:19. And of course heaven is heavenly! But God also promises blessings that His people experience before we die.

And the crown of life refers to these blessings.

Jesus promises to give the best of life to those who have faith.

I know that sounds like a prosperity gospel sort of childish hope. But it really is not.

He is not promising fast cars, or tasty steaks, or silky sheets, or manicured lawns, or the best pets EVER. He is using HIS definition of the best life. He is guaranteeing again that He will be giving His people what is best for us. A blessed life. A life that when it is done, with heaven’s eyes, we will look back and understand, “ahhh… yes, that WAS the best for me! Thank You, Jesus!”

Have faith in the face of fearful things (even persecution!) because Jesus is giving you the best of all possible lives. He gives THAT crown to the faithful.

Believe that Jesus is already working in every moment of the history of the world for the BEST for His people, even when it is hard to understand, because Jesus is treating you as you are… a member of His royal family! He gives THAT crown to believers.

Trust that the darkest of days are somehow the best of days, because Jesus gives us mountaintop experiences even in the valley of the shadow of death. He defines altitude. He gives THAT crown to believers.

Fear not, because you have a crown.

Fear Not, Because God Likes You

Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. (Isaiah 44:2 ESV)

Nicknames can be derogatory, or affectionate, depending on who is using it.   Even the same nickname can be either insulting or complementary, hurtful or kind, dividing or unifying.

In this verse, God focuses on a couple of His nicknames for His people Israel.    And He definitely uses the nicknames affectionately… as a comfort to the frightened nation of Judah.  Everything is going wrong for them, and things are going to get worse.  But God calls them sweet names… names of historical value… names of relationship… private, loving, personal, covenantal names.

He calls them, “Jacob,” referring to the man whose name was changed to Israel.  Pretty clearly, the prophet Isaiah is attempting to comfort the southern Israelite kingdom, Judah, by reminding them that God formed their nation.  And more than that, God formed their nation on the back of a less-than-reputable character.  Jacob was a trickster, a liar, a sneak, and often unreliable.  Israel was not formed as a reward for good behavior, but because of unconditional love.

But the second, more rarely used, nickname for Israel is, “Jeshurun.”  God affectionately uses this name in Deuteronomy 32:15, 33:5, 33:5, 33:6, and 33:26.  It means, literally, ‘little straight one.’  It might be an ironic nickname, it might be a hopeful nickname, it might be a theologically precise nickname, but God uses it while ruffling Israel’s hair… with a warm smile on His face.

There is also a connection in the New Testament between Jeshurun and the words translated, ‘beloved’ in passages like Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Colossians 3:12, I Thessalonians 1:4, 2 Thessalonians 2:13 and Jude 1.

Isaiah offers this comfort to the troubled people of Judah.  They can relax because God loves them.  And He also likes them.  We don’t use affectionate nicknames for people we don’t like, and neither does God. 

Those nicknames apply to us, too.

No matter how difficult things get… be comforted in the fact that God likes us.

Fear not, because God likes you.

Fear Not, Because God is at Work

Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” (Exodus 20:20 ESV)

I lay on my stomach in the hospital bed. Two nurses and a doctor lurked above me, and took turns poking my back with railroad spikes, daggers, and poison-covered scalpels.

Or so it seemed to my five-year-old sensibilities.

I had been hospitalized due to a severe allergic reaction to hay… while I was playing in a barn. And the staff determined that I was probably one of those allergy kids. So they drew a checkerboard on my back, and tested each square with small pins, each tip covered with a substance in order to gauge my reaction. Rash? Allergic. No rash? Fine.

I do not remember much interaction with the doctor. But I remember my concerned parents, listening to their little boy’s exaggerated screams, trying to explain testing, temporary, and ‘things-for-your-own-good.’ I do not remember listening to them.

But I should have.

Hard and painful events are sometimes, in this sin-broken world, necessary for a purpose beyond our immediate understanding.

Our loving God really IS in charge. Our loving God really DOES have more awareness than we do. Our loving God really HAS our good in His mind. Our loving God really CAN do difficult things in our lives that have wonderful purposes.

“In God We Trust,” does not refer only to the good things in a Christian’s life. “In God We Trust,” also refers to the confusing, painful, tragic, disappointing, sad, and seemingly hopeless things.

At the very least, we learn thereby what trust really is. Complete. In all circumstances. Peace. Even the absence of fear.

Fear not, because God is at work.