THE CONQUERING OF FEAR (2)

Moses gave at least five suggestions for Israel on overcoming its fears. These can also help us as we face our fearful moments. First, we must keep our eyes on God, not on ourselves. Moses was saying, “Look up and not at yourselves, and remember what the God of the universe has already done.” Moses told Israel, “You shall not dread them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God” (7:21). They were to concentrate on the greatness of God, not on the strength of the enemy. They were to remember what Jehovah had done to Pharaoh and all of Egypt (7:18). When anticipating the future with its impossibilities, we need to reflect upon the power of God and what He has done for us in the past.

Second, we should face our problems by moving toward our fears. Although God would fight for Israel, it did not mean that Israel was to sit back, supposing that everything would be worked out for them. Instead, she was to go forth with a childlike faith in Jehovah, knowing that He could do exceedingly above all they asked or thought. Jehovah demanded one great basic quality of his people: confidence in His ability. The demand was for unbounded faith. Israel was to confront her enemies with the knowledge that God was her strength. “But the Lord your God shall deliver them before you, and will throw them into great confusion until they are destroyed” (7:23).

God promised to deliver Israel’s enemies into her hands. When men proceed as God has planned for their lives, they will be victorious and fear will become a part of their enemies’ thinking. The “hornet” that God would send among the enemies (7:20) might be called fear. Fear brings with it devastating companions, such as panic, depression, and discouragement. The fear of Israel would go forth into Canaan as a hornet, stinging their enemies and causing their hearts to melt with dread. Our own personal growth comes from actively dealing with our fears. We grow and achieve in direct proportion to how we deal with our fears. To grow is to deal with our fears. When we do not face our fears, they prevent our contentment, sap our enthusiasm, destroy our motivation, and rob us of the blessing of hope. Israel had to face her fears to enter Canaan. We must face our fears to enter our spiritual inheritance.

Third, God will give us only what we can handle. They would face their enemies “little by little.” The gradual nature of the conquest is given: “And the Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you” (7:22). The enemies were not driven out immediately or even in a year, so that the land would not become desolate and the beasts of the field would not multiply (Exodus 23:29, 30). God would deliver into their hands only what they could handle. Israel would fight, then settle; fight, then settle. Time was needed for them to grow and mature as a people in the land. The Israelites would not be capable of filling Canaan immediately, especially the larger borders of the Promised Land.

Fourth, we must expect nothing less than total victory. “And He will deliver their kings into your hand so that you shall make their name perish from under heaven; . . .” (7:24). Their victories would not just be over the common people of the land, but God would deliver the kings of the land into Israel’s hands. Fifth, we are to remove all barriers that will take us away from total allegiance to God. The Israelites were to remove anything that would bring about their defeat.

Word Affirmation: “ And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness." - Deuteronomy 7:15 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“ When we do not face our fears, they prevent our contentment, sap our enthusiasm, destroy our motivation, and rob us of the blessing of hope. "

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