“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”
Fear…We all have it. Each of us fear different things. Fear of heights, water, illness, birds :-), spiders, falling, public speaking, pain, death, failure, acceptance, loneliness….this list can go on and on.
Some of our fears appear closer to the surface where other fears are uncomfortable and deep, and at times we may never realize they are driving us.
Fear can stand in the way of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The voices of fear drive out those voices of peace, comfort, joy, love, and gentleness. Fear too can make a way for disobedience of following the spirit in our lives.
Do you ever pause to think, what does God say about this fear that I am holding on to?
Does fear drive you? Is all fear bad? When can fear as a driver be good?
When I think about “good” ways that fear was a driver, three women immediately come to mind. Rahab, Elizabeth, and Mary. Each of them had a situation where they had to decide to fear man or fear God.
A story I revisit over and over again throughout my life, is the story of Rahab.
If you aren’t sure where to find Rahab, you will find the beginning of her story in Joshua Chapter 2. (Click the link, Open the app, dust off the bible, head to your bookmarks, GO read it for the first time or again for the 50th.)
Here in her story is where we understand what fear drives her actions…
“8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed.[b] 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. ”
Rather than fearing the King of Jericho, she feared God. She chose to hide the spies. Lie to the King’s men of Jericho. This is not where her story ends.
“17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.””
Her faith is what stands out in her story. Faith, not fear is what the story tells. Her faith paved the way for the future, the coming of our Savior. It’s her Faith that we see.
“Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her. They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.
24 Then they burned the whole city and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron into the treasury of the Lord’s house. 25 But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.”
What uncomfortable fears are holding you back?
Where is the voice of God drawing you nearer to Him and pushing you further away from your fears?
Where could God take your life if you let go of the fears that are holding you back from the life He has planned for you?
Take some time, spend some space with Rahab in Joshua Chapter 2. Search how far her story goes.
Spend time into Luke 1, see if Elizabeth or Mary are people who you can relate to. AND as you spend that time in God’s word, take some space in silence to listen to what He might be saying to you?
