Fear Not, Please

What happened yesterday in Boston, no matter who is found to be responsible, is an act of terrorism. It was designed to instill fear, and the bombers were successful – for a moment.  It also caused pain for those impacted by the explosions. Across our county and in many nations around the world there are prayers asking God to provide comfort and healing.

I’d like to go one step further and ask our Lord to remove our fear. We may feel sorrow, we may even feel anger, but we are not to feel fear of those who wish to instill fear in our hearts.

The simple two-word phrase “Fear not” is found sixty-two times in my Bible. First is Genesis 15:1, said to Abram following Lot’s rescue, after Abram’s meeting with Melchizedek:

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

No, I’m not going to go repeat all sixty-two instances of those two words. They were spoken to Jacob, to Joseph, to Moses – and by Moses to the children of Israel and to Joshua.  Boaz uses the words to Ruth; Samuel uses the words to the people of Israel; Jonathan uses them to David; David uses them to Jonathan’s son. David said them to his own son in 1 Chronicles 20:17:

And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

The same message echoes across the ages. He will protect, He will never leave, and His work will be accomplished.  We are told, though, to fear some things. Just not what yesterday’s bomb builders want us to.

And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28 KJV)

We were told much earlier to fear the Lord.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Psalm 111:10 KJV)

We know that there are people who are determined to kill others. That hasn’t changed since Cain and Able, and there many different such groups in our world today. Not all of them are strangers.

Can we pray for them? We should, even though we believe that there is punishment awaiting them by the One who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

So, what I’m suggesting today is that we fear not.  I suggest that in response to God’s promises, we trust Him to know what is needed for His will to be accomplished and that He is able to provide all that’s necessary to accomplish it. Our only concern should be to be doing His will.