How can we trust God when facing threats like Moab feared Israel's presence? Seeing the Fear in Numbers 22:4 “Moab said to the elders of Midian, ‘Now this assembly will lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.’ ” Moab’s leaders felt cornered. Israel’s sheer numbers looked overwhelming, and they imagined total ruin. That gut-level dread is not far from what we feel when bad news, hostile people, or uncertain futures press in. Why Moab Trembled—and Why We Sometimes Do Too • Threats look bigger than solutions when God is left out of the picture. • Past victories of others (Israel’s triumphs in Numbers 21) can make us assume there’s no room left for our own survival. • The imagination runs wild; “will lick up everything” is vivid language of total loss. God’s Track Record of Protection • Exodus 14:13-14 — “Stand firm and see the LORD’s salvation… The LORD will fight for you.” Israel never lifted a sword at the Red Sea. • Deuteronomy 20:4 — “He goes with you to fight for you…to give you the victory.” • 2 Chronicles 20:15 — “Do not be afraid or discouraged…for the battle is not yours but God’s.” • Psalm 56:3-4 — “When I am afraid, I will trust in You…in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” • Romans 8:31 — “If God is for us, who can be against us?” History shows one consistent pattern: God defends His covenant people, often turning apparent disadvantages into showcases of His power. Practical Steps to Trust God When Threatened 1. Remember Who God Is • Unchanging (Malachi 3:6) • All-powerful (Jeremiah 32:17) 2. Rehearse His Works • Journal past deliverances. • Read biblical accounts aloud; let facts form faith. 3. Refuse Panic, Choose Prayer • Philippians 4:6-7—pray, give thanks, receive peace that “surpasses all understanding.” 4. Replace Imagined Doom with Promised Victory • Isaiah 41:10—He strengthens, helps, upholds. • 2 Timothy 1:7—He gives “power, love, and self-control,” not fear. 5. Rally with God’s People • Hebrews 10:24-25—mutual encouragement keeps courage high. Living on the Other Side of the Cross Jesus faced humanity’s worst threat—sin and death—and triumphed (Colossians 2:15). Because He lives, believers are “more than conquerors” (Romans 8:37). Every lesser threat falls under the same victory banner. Closing Encouragement Moab’s fear led them to hire Balaam; Israel’s God needed no such strategies. When threats loom large, the same covenant-keeping LORD stands with us. Fix your eyes on His faithfulness, recount His promises, and let today’s dangers become tomorrow’s testimony. |
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