The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. — Proverbs 29:25
Mrs. Ima Terror chased her husband through the crowds at the zoo, waving her umbrella and unleashing insults like invisible missiles. Her perspiring and winded husband, seeing that the lock on the lion’s cage had not quite closed, yanked it open, jumped into the cage, slammed the door, pushed the astonished lion hard against the bars, and peered over its shoulder. His frustrated wife shook her umbrella. Stuttered in anger, and finally managed to explode, “Ralph, come out of there, you coward!”
Ralph, in this fictitious story, is like the people of Israel that we read about in the book of Numbers. They were confused about whom they should really fear. They saw themselves as grasshoppers when compared to the giants in the land where God wanted them to go (13:32-33).
If we are so afraid of people that we stop following the Lord, were not trusting Him. It shows that we have doubted His plan, His power, and His promises. We have failed to recognize that He, above all others, is the One to be feared — which means that He is to be reverenced, trusted, loved, and obeyed.
Father, forgive us for fearing what we should not be afraid of, and for not fearing and trusting You. — Mart De Haan
Our love for God should always move
Our hearts to do what’s good and right;
Love also fears His judgments true
And stands in awe of His great might. — D. De Haan
READ: Num. 13:30-14:10
Fear God, and you’ll have nothing else to fear.
The Bible in one year:
• Joshua 7-9