Deuteronomy 7:19
“Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;”
Fear is an incredible emotion. Fear will cause the strongest to become weak. Fear will cause the staunchest to become unreliable. Fear will cause the best Christian to cower. Fear will cause you to do the opposite of what you would normally do.
Fear is one of the greatest liars. Fear is being afraid of something that has never happened. It tells you something is going to happen when in reality it has not happened and probably won’t happen. Fear is the one of the greatest weapons that Satan uses to keep God’s people from doing right.
God warned the children of Israel that they would face fear. He said, “Thou shalt not be afraid of them…” God was telling Israel that when they entered the Promised Land that they were not to be afraid of the countries that seemed bigger than they. He then gives a recipe on how to deal with fear that would be good to use when you face fear.
First, remember God. The thing God pointed them to was Himself. He knew that if they would remember Who they served, that it would help their fear to subside. When you face fear, remember Who you serve. You are not serving man, but God. You are serving a God Who is very present in your time of need.
Second, remember your relationship with God. He didn’t just say to remember God, but remember the “LORD thy God.” God added a relationship to the LORD God. If you are saved, then you are a child of God. You have no reason to fear for the LORD thy God will protect His children.
Third, remember the promises of God. God promised Israel that He would give the nations into their hand, and God has never gone back on one promise. Friend, the promises of God are true. Never doubt God’s promises. When fear comes, remember the promises of God and how faithful He is to fulfill those promises.
Fourth, remember the works of God. In verse 19, God reminded Israel of His great “signs.” These are the works God has done in the past. Whenever fear comes your way, always look back at the great works God has done and realize that He can do the same works for you today. You will quickly realize you have no reason to fear when you remember His works.
Fifth, remember the miracles of God. God went further with Israel and reminded them of His “wonders.” This was more personal than the works, for the wonders were the miracles He performed for them. Whenever you are faced with fear, go back and remember the miracles God has personally done for you. It’s good to get courage from the works God has done for others, but it is better to get strength from the miracles He has done for you.
Finally, remember the power of God. God finished with reminding Israel of His “mighty hand.” Never forget that you are serving the almighty God. You are serving the God Who has the power to overcome anything that comes your way.
Christian, you have no reason to fear. Fear is a negative emotion that hinders a positive work of God. Remember 2 Timothy 1:7 whenever fear comes your way, which says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”