Fear can be blinding. It can be so paralyzing that we miss seeing the beauty of God around us. Several years ago, an ice storm hit Southwest Missouri, knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes. It was terrifying. Ice built up on trees an inch thick, breaking weaker branches, toppling trees, and breaking powerlines. I was just one of hundreds of thousands who desperately prayed for the safety of my family and friends affected.
A few days later the roads were clear enough to drive on, but power would not be restored everywhere for a few more weeks. My sons and I drove to a convenient store that sold kerosene.
Only then did I see the beauty of the ice. Blue skies turned every tree branch and every blade of grass into sparkling diamonds. The bright sun melted the ice just enough to drip down roadside rock faces, whether it refroze into countless frozen waterfalls. The ice was just as pretty the previous day and the next, but it is that day I remember. The fear was gone. The worst was over. I was no longer blinded by fear.
In this passages in Joshua (chapter 10), the men of Gibeon are afraid of their enemies, and beg Joshua for help. The Lord tells Joshua to fear not, Not a man of them shall stand before you.”
God protected His people. The men of Gibeon could not see what God had in store; they were were so blinded by fear.
On another note, when Joshua and Caleb first spied in the Promised Land, they reported it to be “flowing with milk and honey,” and with clusters of grapes so large that it took two men to carry them. Yet, throughout the history of its conquest – the books of Joshua and Judges – there is no further mention of its beauty and abundance (except in recalling the earlier reports of the spies).
Fear does indeed blind us to God’s wonders.
Fear Not – For God is Working wonders all around us.
Leave a Reply