Are you Spreading Fear or Hope?

Let’s face it the world is currently in a state of turmoil and you don’t have to look far to see it. The media is jam packing the minds of everyday people with fear-inducing news headlines. That’s the agenda of the media and the thrill-seeking marketing scheme that newspapers go for. Fear creates fear and when fear comes in, masses of people become like a stampede of crazed cattle.

As far as news headlines are concerned, I am aware of what is going on but I don’t read the news. I am here on this planet in this walk of faith to hear only what my God wants me to hear –that is my walk and my conviction and it keeps me from the fear that media is trying to evoke in people. What does God’s word say about fear among the masses?

Judges 7: 1 - 6

Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him, rose early and camped beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.  The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ Now therefore come, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So 22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained. Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”  So he brought the people down to the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.” Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was 300 men; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water.

This scene in the book of Judges describes the scene just before Gideon and only 300 men defeat an entire army of Midianites. The key to understanding this verse lies in the Torah.

Deuteronomy 20: 1, 8

When you go out to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, who brought you up from the land of Egypt, is with you. Then the officers shall speak further to the people and say, ‘Who is the man that is afraid and fainthearted? Let him depart and return to his house, so that he might not make his brothers’ hearts melt like his heart.’ When the officers have finished speaking to the people, they shall appoint commanders of armies at the head of the people.

Yahweh ordained that, if any among His army were fearful, faint hearted and scared that these were to return home because when pervasive fear grips someone it can easily spread in the camp and cause the hearts of others to melt. The Hebrew word here for melt literally means to liquefy, to become discouraged, grieved or faint. Let’s relate to this on a visual level. Most of us remember epic battle scenes where the army is discouraged and then one guy (or girl) rides in, usually on a horse and gives a profoundly moving and motivating speech! This happens in Braveheart, Gladiator, and countless others.

It’s the moment where a saviour –type figure comes in and stirs the fire inside; this fire eradicates fear and can cause the army to win the battle or war.

This is what faith and hope in whom God truly is, is suppose to do for us because in verse 1 of Deuteronomy 20, God has already given us the outcome to the fight. He already tells us do not be afraid because I am with you. Yes, the world is in turmoil and yes we are all facing our own personal battles and giants that resemble Goliath sometimes but here is the question you need to answer. Are you someone who likes spreading fear in the camp or are you a person who gives hope? It is not wrong to fear but it is wrong to give in to fear. We will all fear at some stage in our lives, but to give in to it, is not our call. Our call is to fight and believe that God is with us no matter where we are. Perhaps it is time to stop reading the news – and talking about it at dinner parties. I find that people, in particular men, like to do this and it gnaws at my very last nerve. I have also come to see that people who don’t really know what else to talk about, usually turn to the weather and then to the news. I recently had someone meet up with my husband and I unexpectedly. After 10 minutes the individual launched in to a full news report for the past week. I was stumped at how well he knew the news but how little he knew about God’s Hope and Glory, even though he professed to have some sense of a prayer life. This is not a judgment it’s just a fact – because after we parted ways there was such a heaviness that stayed behind. Fear was present in his speech and in his discouragement at society’s crimes and murders, however God was missing from his speech and from his life, how truly sad. This is zapping the life that Yeshua has purchased so highly for us – the life of completeness and contentment in His pasture.  He is the Good Shepherd and as one of his sheep, we should not fear this daily life we live, instead let’s trust our Shepherd to lead us. Even through the desert wastelands and the high table Mountains, He knows the way and He will protect us. Give up on the news and start reading the Word of God – because it is profoundly more truthful and more accurate in terms of end time prophecies and let’s be a people of hope, not melting discouragement! There is so much goodness of God to talk about, so much Love from Messiah to celebrate and so much time we can spend together just speaking of His Miracles and countless love touches to our hearts. Like the song Amazing Grace so aptly says “When we've been there ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun. We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun.” Let’s start singing Gods praises today!!

How can you bring hope in to a fearful situation this week?

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer!

 I’m having Coffee For Your Heart with my friend Holley Gerth