One of the consistent promises of the bible is the promise that God is with us, that he goes before us and will neither fail nor forsake us. And very often with that promise comes a corresponding admonition: "do not be afraid." One of the biggest obstacles of faith is fear. Fear drives us to take matters into our own hands, to look for our own solutions, to seek answers and security in places we wouldn’t ordinarily look, and to do whatever we have to resolve our fear.

Consider the Golden Calf incident in Exodus. Have you ever wondered why the Israelites did such a silly thing? God had delivered them from bondage in Egypt in dramatic fashion with ten plagues, whirlwinds of fire and cloud, and the parting of the red sea, and no sooner do they get to Sinai and Moses steps away for one minute, they start making a golden calf. What were they thinking? Well, they weren’t really thinking. They were reacting to fear. In the prolonged absence of Moses and in fear that their God had abandoned them, they adopted a new god who they hoped might deliver them from their vulnerable circumstances. Fear drives us to do things we would never consider doing under ordinary circumstances.

We are no longer living in ordinary circumstances. In these uncertain economic times and amid the ongoing war on terror, fear and uncertainty abound. But God makes the same promise to us that he made to the Israelites in the midst of their fear and uncertainty. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed (Deut 31:8). Even amid fear and uncertainty God calls us to live boldly in faith knowing that he is with us.

In His Grip,

Pastor Joe