This week, the topic of fear has been on my heart and mind. Over the past 20 months fear has taken root in many as we’ve watched as the national and world events unfold. And while I would love to say “enough!”, snap my fingers and have it all go away, I know that is not a possibility. Instead, I’m turning back to the Word of Truth, the Bible, to provide hope and encouragement to any and all who are struggling today with fear.
In Judges, chapter 6 & 7, we find the account of Gideon.
“Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts,
caves and strongholds.” Judges 6:2
The Israelites have once again turned from God and were worshipping idols. Because they had abandoned their relationship with God, He stepped back and allowed the Medianites to oppress and harass them for seven years. Things got so bad, the Israelites had abandoned their homes and taken to living in caves. This may be one of the first instances we see of social distancing.
After seven long years, the people finally cry out to God for deliverance. Why does it take us so long to go to God? Why is He, so often, our last resort? But I digress. Back to Gideon’s story.
God heard the people’s plea and found a respectful but reluctant servant in Gideon.
Judges 6:12-16
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.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”
After much conversation and a series of tests to be sure that he was hearing from God, Gideon gathered all of the men to face down the Midianites.
Thirty-two thousand men answered the call. I’m sure Gideon was thinking is that enough? (In Judges 6:5, the passage notes that the Midianites were too numerous to count.) But God had something else in mind.
“The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.” (Judges 7:2-3)
“Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave” Judges 7:3
I have read this Bible story many times and have never stopped to consider the impact of this verse. God is recognizing that fear is a valid emotion. He is not judging any of those who were afraid. He is simply sending them home.
Fear is defined as: a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
And, while fear begins on the emotional level, it can manifest on the physical level in how we react to the fear.
There is a psychological term associated with fear and how we handle it. It’s called the “fight-or-flight response.” This is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. In laymen terms, when we are confronted with something that causes fear, we will either fight to overcome the threat or flee to avoid the threat.
In this scripture, I see God saying it’s ok to drop back when one is afraid.
The other side of this coin is the courage it took for those remaining men to face an army that out numbered theirs by the thousands.
Courage is also something that starts on the emotional level, but is manifested in a physical way. And just because we have courage to face something today, doesn’t mean we’ll have it tomorrow when the unexpected happens.
I remember Jon making the observation that little kids are tremendously courageous. Think about it. You have this 2’ tall person, standing in front of a 5-6’ person and saying “no!”. On the other hand, that same child will cry with fear at just the thought of going to sit on Santa’s lap for pictures.
Courage today, doesn’t equal courage tomorrow.
Twenty-two thousand men chose “flight” that day at Gilead. Not only was God pleased by that, He had a plan. He wasn’t finished refining Gideon’s army yet.
But the Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the Lord told him, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Three hundred of them drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs. All the rest got down on their knees to drink. The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. (Judges 7:4 – 7)
“If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” (Judges 7:10-11)
One would think at this point, the fear aspect had been addressed and was officially off the table, but as I mentioned before, courage today, does not equal courage tomorrow.”
In this case, God is not giving Gideon the “flight” option, but is encouraging him to “fight”.
Following God’s suggestion, “Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. “I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” (Judges 7:13-14)
Needless to say, that was the message that Gideon needed to hear. The rest is history. You can read the rest of Gideon’s story in Judges, chapter 7.
Today, what message to do you need to hear? We are all facing something that causes us fear. Is God saying, it’s ok? Or, is God saying, stand and fight? Only you can answer that question.
What I can do is let you know that whatever you decide, it’s ok. God is with you.
If He is asking to you stand and fight, He will give you what you need to be victorious, just like He did for Gideon. If He is allowing you the escape, rest in the fact that He knows what you are made of and knows what you can bear. Take your rest now, so you will be able to fight another day.
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