Fear and Control - Pt. 2

 

But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isaiah 41:8-13 ESV).

 

Based on mass, this is the largest spider in the world (leg-span measurements make it second only to the giant huntsman). They’re so big that in 2014, an entomologist wandering through the rainforest in Guyana found one that was as big as a puppy and weighed just as much. The name may just be a clever note on its size—it’s debated whether the spider actually eats birds. Mostly the spider dines on crickets, beetles and occasionally small mammals and frogs. In any case, it has fangs almost an inch long (although its bite is considered no worse than a wasp's sting) and is covered in tiny prickly hairs that it shoots out at whoever is bugging it. Yep, not a critter I want to meet in the dark!

 

When I ask people what they are afraid of, the typical answer is either spiders or snakes. Sometime people who are a bit older tend to mention bigger risks, such as mass shootings, a natural disaster, or anything that could rob us of life—either our own or that of a loved one. God knows how we are made and how fear can cripple us. In the Bible the message “Do not fear” occurs some 365 times, in one phrasing or another. The prophet Isaiah, speaking God’s words to God’s chosen people, encourages Israel to trust God—even though they will suffer in captivity—and not to fear, because God has an amazing rescue plan.

 

When we lose our job, learn that we have a serious illness, face a big financial loss, or watch a family member make dangerous choices, we naturally experience fear for the future. God’s words in Isaiah invite us to look at the big picture, the overarching story. Our God promises, in effect, “I am with you; I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you. My right hand will take hold of your right hand, so do not be dismayed.” This is the first step in assuaging our fear of the future.