What does God's command to "do not fear him" teach about trust? Context of the Command Numbers 21:34: “But the LORD said to Moses, ‘Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, along with all his people and his land. Treat him as you treated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon.’” • Israel is approaching the Promised Land when King Og of Bashan, a giant with fortified cities (Deuteronomy 3:11), blocks the way. • God’s command comes before a single sword is lifted. Victory is promised first, action follows second. What “Do Not Fear Him” Reveals About God’s Character • Sovereign Deliverer – “I have delivered him” (perfect tense) shows the battle’s outcome is already settled in heaven. • Personal Defender – The LORD addresses Moses directly. Trust is relational, not abstract. • Faithful Pattern-Keeper – “As you treated Sihon…” God points to a recent victory to reinforce confidence for the next one (cf. Deuteronomy 1:30-31). Trust Lessons Wrapped Inside the Command • Trust precedes sight. Israel must believe God’s word before seeing Og fall (Hebrews 11:1). • Trust feeds on remembered faithfulness. Yesterday’s testimony fuels today’s courage (Psalm 77:11-12). • Trust displaces fear. The heart cannot hold equal parts dread and reliance; one pushes out the other (Isaiah 26:3). • Trust rests in God’s completed work. “I have delivered” invites the army to march as victors, not as gamblers on odds (1 John 5:4). Reinforcing Threads Elsewhere in Scripture • David before Goliath: “The LORD who delivered me… will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Samuel 17:37). • Hezekiah under Assyrian threat: “Do not be afraid… for there are more with us than with him” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8). • Jesus to His disciples: “Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27). Trust is anchored in His presence. Practical Takeaways for Today • Recall and rehearse God’s past interventions—journaling victories strengthens present faith. • Speak Scripture aloud when fear whispers; truth heard by the ear steadies the heart. • Move forward in obedience even while feelings lag behind; courage often follows the first step. • Anchor expectations to God’s promises, not to visible circumstances; the unseen reality is the greater one (2 Corinthians 4:18). |
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