Devotions: Life of Moses Numbers 13-14

"If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Numbers 14:8-9

This passage defines faith versus fear for me. How far are you willing to trust the Lord? When it seems impossible? When it seems dangerous? When you think you will not only fail but hurt or die because you fail?

The need to trust the Lord is implicit. If you do not trust the Lord you will fail. But then there is the phrase 'do not be afraid' and it occurs frequently. The things of this world, the situations, the people, the problems, are not to cause us fear. The only fear we should have is a healthy respect and fear of the Lord. He is the one we should be concerned about. If we are in his will, nothing should cause us to be afraid. Death should hold no fear for us. Pain is a passing thing. Struggles are not the end! When we belong to Him, when he dwells with us, there is nothing in this world that we should be afraid of. There is nothing in this world that should deter us from following Him.

Instead, we should be afraid of living a life without Him! We need to impress that fear on those who don't have a relationship with Him! There is a reason that hell is described as a lake of fire with weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is separation from the Lord and it is agony. Our fear should be living without the Lord.

So what does that mean? It means stepping out in faith and defeating the fear. Nothing is impossible with Him. Unfortunately our culture is such a non-confrontational culture - focused so much on compromise and comfort. But God doesn't call us to mediocrity and we need to not be afraid to step out in faith. We need to be bold in our trust in our father, call out that which we need to call out, pursue that which he calls us too and do not be afraid.

Do not be afraid. Trust in the Lord.