Dear church,

Do you live your life in a fearless kind of way, certain of the power and provision of God through Jesus Christ? We may be tempted at times to worry about things going on in the world – social unrest, economic turbulence, foreign powers, and disease. In certain moments, we may be overcome with dread or concern.

The Israelites were told to send home their fearful soldiers and those who had unfinished business at home – even when Israel was outnumbered by its enemies. The rest paused to listen to the high priest, who gave a speech at the front line: “Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

The exhortation was grounded in the reality that God already had delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt (20:1). The challenge was to continue in that state of faith and fearlessness, even in the face of long odds.

Being fearless does not mean we are careless or that we refuse to take common sense precautions. But being fearless does mean we know the bigger picture – the one the unbelieving world does not see. We know that God is in control at all times and all places. 

We also know this all-powerful God loves us. We know our own deliverance from slavery to sin and death is a deliverance to something remarkably better. God had good plans for us, after all (Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28).

Chris