Day Sixteen: God gives us freedom from fear.

I’ve been too harsh on the Israelites as I reflect on their journey to freedom. It's easy to point out their mistakes and moments of doubt from the comfort of my reading chair.

I need to remember that they didn't know the God who liberated them from Egypt as well as we do now. This unfamiliar God was leading them to do daunting tasks, like navigating through the wilderness, crossing the Red Sea with walls of water on both sides, and confronting giants for the Promised Land.

This generation had no experience in warfare. They had only known defeat, so asking them to fight was a considerable challenge. They didn't have the benefit of both testaments of the Bible revealing the faithfulness of God. 

We do.

And yet we, too, struggle with fear. Our God, the same God as the Israelites, often asks us to do very difficult things—letting go of what we want to hold onto and taking on tasks we think we can’t handle.
Our walk of faith is marked by leaps of faith. To jump, we have to know the God who calls us, trusting that He is capable of delivering, empowering, and walking with us every step of the way. Just as the column of fire and cloud of smoke accompanied the Israelites in the desert and God led them in battles, He has a victorious battle plan for us. He will be with us throughout the entire journey He calls us to undertake.

Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 31:6
 -  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Scripture Reference: Deuteronomy 20:2-4
-   When you prepare for battle, the priest must come forward to speak to the troops. 3 He will say to them, ‘Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight your enemies today! Do not lose heart or panic or tremble before them. 4 For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!’

Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 1:7

-   For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 
 
Additional Reading:
Psalm 91 is a great Psalm to read when you are afraid. It reminds you of the God who protects and fights for you


Prayer Prompt: Pray for the courage to embrace the tasks God is calling you to. Ask Him to reveal himself as the God who fights for you.