Fear

Fear

“I am God,” the voice said [to Jacob], “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will see to it that you become a great nation there. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring your descendants back again.”

Genesis 46:3-4

I’ve heard the story of a man who attempted to cross the frozen St. Lawrence River in Canada. Unsure whether the ice would hold him, the man first tested it by laying one hand on it. Then he got down on his knees and gingerly began making his way across the ice. When he got to the middle of the frozen river, trembling with fear, he heard a noise behind him. Looking back, he saw a team of horses pulling a carriage down the road toward the river. Upon reaching the bank, the horses didn’t stop but bolted right onto the ice and drove past him—while he cowered on all fours.

Sometimes we feel the same fear this man did. We come up against an obstacle or a frightening experience, and we are uncertain about how to proceed or where to place our confidence. At times like these, it’s good for us to be reminded of the faith journeys of other people who trusted God.

Jacob, an Old Testament patriarch, thought his son Joseph was dead. When he found out that Joseph was still alive in Egypt, his mind and heart must have been doing somersaults. Since Jacob was such an old man, the thought of moving to Egypt was likely a fearful one. But notice how God graciously anticipated Jacob’s fears. “I am God,” he reminded Jacob. And then he told Jacob not to be afraid and assured him of his presence. What a great reminder for any of us who feel frightened or even paralyzed by fear today: he is God. We need not be afraid, for he is with us!

God who keeps promises,

Thank you that you kept your promises to people like Jacob. May we be encouraged not to be afraid but to trust you in all the events of our lives too. Amen.