I ran into this text today and invite you to consider this text from Exodus:
“In Egypt, as fears grew about the increasing population of Hebrews, so too did the oppressive acts ordered by Pharaoh. The king of Egypt spoke to two Hebrew midwives named Shiphrah and Puah: “When you are helping the Hebrew women give birth and you see the baby being born, if it’s a boy, kill him. But if it’s a girl, you can let her live”
Exodus 1:15-16.
Notice the Hebrews had not rebelled. They had done no harm to the Egyptians. Yet fear led Pharaoh to decree this dreadful plan to kill newborn baby boys.
Surely you remember a similar story, one that points back to this account, found at the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel. King Herod the Great heard that a group of magi from Persia had read in the stars that a Hebrew child had been born who would become king of the Jews. In response, Herod, motivated by fear as Pharaoh had been, decreed the death of the Hebrew boys in Bethlehem.
“12 I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human to animal, and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt” Exodus 12:12-13.
If we’re looking for ourselves in the story of Moses’ birth, we’ve got to consider when and where we struggle with fear and how our fears lead us to act. Here are a few thoughts about our own fear, especially as it impacts our spiritual life:
When Do We Feel Fear?
When we feel unloved by God, or when we question God’s love, we forget: “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance” Psalm 32:7…The opposite of fear is faith, so when we forget God’s love for us we forget: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love” 1 John 4:18.
When we avoid the Scriptures, church, or prayer…and when we are avoiding God, we need to remember that He is the only one who can truly help us. Jesus told us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and in Me you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30.
When we have difficulties in relationships…this spirit of fear keeps us from living out the second greatest commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” God made us for relationships with other humans; in the beginning, when He created Adam, He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone, and He created Eve” Genesis 2:18.
When we worry abut having to make decisions, we forget that we should remember: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” Psalm 119:105, and “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you”James 1:5…
When we compromise in our relationships or morality…This is a dangerous path. Recall when Satan tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of eden, where sin and suffering began. The serpent asked, “Did God really say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden” Genesis 3:1?
So today ask yourself what you fear the most in your life, right now, and then pray and ask God to help you overcome your fears. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” Isaiah 41:10.
“Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” 1 Peter 5:7.
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love”
1 John 4:18.
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