When I think about all the pressure that first century forefathers and foremothers had to face, it makes me grateful that I was born in my generation and not theirs. They paved the way of what raw faith looks like. From story to story–you’ll find that they rarely had an example of faith to follow. They were the trailblazers of faith themselves and we get to benefit from that hard work and grit today. Abraham being challenged to sacrifice his son, Noah being challenged to build an ark for a flood that wouldn’t happen until after many years, Mary being challenged to give birth in a mind-boggling miraculous way–it wasn’t easy, in fact it was extremely difficult. Many of them were called out of their comfort zone by God to move somewhere or do something–and to trust that whatever would follow, would be in some way a good thing no matter what it looked like.
Although we have these stories available to us to help guard our hearts from fear of what’s ahead, we can still struggle with fear. This is true especially in times of change and uncertainty. So then how do we handle the fear? Let’s let the scriptures help out. This is a quiet time to help battle fear about the future through the lives of three people with extraordinary faith.
GIDEON
The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”
The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”
“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Judges 6:11-15
Q – Gideon was threshing wheat, far from being a soldier in battle. Why do you think the angel of the Lord called him “mighty warrior”?
Q – Think of something that you are fearful of? Starting a business, moving to a new city, letting your kid study abroad, as a few examples. Seeing that God called Gideon by the title of what he planned for his life, what name could you envision God calling you. Pray about that.
Q – Why did Gideon doubt what the angel of the Lord said–a message from God himself.
Q – What could you be focusing on that is causing doubt, and what could you redirect your focus to that is faith-building.
Q – What message do you take away from the command God gave Gideon, “Go in the strength you have…Am I not sending you”?
MOSES
The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.’ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go.
“And I will make the Egyptians favorably disposed toward this people, so that when you leave you will not go empty-handed. Exodus 3:18-21
***This is when God performed signs and wonders right in front of Moses’ eyes, giving him evidence that he is of greater power than the king of Egypt and that God will help Moses in Exodus 4:1-9***
Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Exodus 4:10-13
Q – In what ways might you have previously seen evidence that God is of greater power than your fears and that he can help you?
Q – What limitations was Moses fixated on that he was convinced would hold him back from carrying out the assignment God gave him?
Q – Take a look at Acts 7:22 “Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.” What was reported about Moses’ abilities in Acts 7:22 that contradicts Moses’ own opinion about himself?
Q – Is there a limitation you see that may be fueling your fears that perhaps could be seen from a different perspective? Take 5-10 minutes to journal about this question.
ESTHER
When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Esther 4:12-17
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks. Esther 5:1-5
Q – What motivated Esther about what Mordecai told her in Esther 4:13?
Q – What can you apply from Mordecai’s message to Esther in your own situation?
Q – Rarely do we overcome fear by willing it away or saying to ourselves, “stop being fearful!” What did Esther do to go from fearful thinking to taking bold action–where she could have been killed since she would be addressing the king in a way that was not customary?
Q – What can you do in your own scenario to go from fearful thinking to taking bold action–even if it means taking a risk?
Here are some scriptures to hold onto when you’re feeling fearful.
Isaiah 41:23 / Deuteronomy 31:8 / 2 Timothy 1:7 / 1 Peter 5:7 / John 14:27 / Joshua 1:9 / Matthew 6:34 / Isaiah 43:1 / Psalms 23:4 / Psalms 34:4 / Psalms 94:19
Rise & Shine Bright <3