When we address the topic of fear in the Bible, a good place to start is the book of Judges. In fact, Judges chapter 6 recounts the story of a man named Gideon. When we are first introduced to him, we are told that the Israelites were being bullied and dominated by a large and powerful army known as the Midianites. Every harvest season, this army would march across the countryside and plunder the crops from Gideon and the others. Because this sacred group of God's chosen people had turned to worshiping false gods and false idols, the true God allowed this pillaging to occur.
The Israelites had taken to hiding out in caves in nearby mountain cliffs. They would take as much of their own harvest as quickly as they could, and then retreat to safety while the Midianite army arrived and took the rest for themselves. What a miserable existence it must have been. But it sounds a lot like what is occurring today in the year 2020. As our world is being overrun with a strange, new virus ... do we not often find ourselves 'hiding in caves' in an attempt to wait it out?
Truth be told, our government has mandated social distancing - and it is ultimately a wise decision I think. But it also lends itself to an atmosphere of apprehension. There is no Midianite army to run from this time, but a microbial illness instead. It's like a pestilence straight out of the Old Testament. The realities are the same: we run to the grocery store and grab what we can, then retreat back to our homes and wait it out. We may as well shut our windows while we are at it, just in case a swarm of locusts comes our way soon.
God willing, this physical distancing will keep a good portion of our population healthy. In the meantime, we are dealing with the psychological ramifications of prolonged fear and anxiety. Gideon was fearful also, and the Bible says that God came to him as an angel of the Lord in order to convey a message about leadership. Essentially, God told Gideon that he would be the one to lead a revolt against the Midianite army. Gideon then put God to the test three times. He wanted to make sure that the Lord was with him every step of the way, prior to taking any course of action. After all, it was a scary mission.
Judges 6:39 says, "Then Gideon said to God, 'Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.'" God complies with this strange request, as well as all the others. Gideon receives his validation.
Now I wouldn't recommend putting God to the test, generally speaking. Some prefer to pray for a sign or signal before they act on God's behalf. For example, prior to accepting a new job, people might pray for God to show them some type of validation. This can work, and many have had success with this type of thing; but ultimately it can be a mixed bag. Much better, I think, to follow what the Bible says - no matter what signs or signals we may be seeing around us. Although this formula isn't as dramatic as witnessing prayer requests come true, it is still the most reliable way to tell whether or not you are walking in obedience with God or not.
It is okay to be fearful sometimes, but we must continue to press on anyway. There is a time for hiding in caves and a time to come back out and reap the harvest. And it just might happen, that occasionally God calls us to engage the Midianite army directly. And if we are called to do this, may we have the strength to respond to the Bible quickly and with authority, as opposed to asking God for a sign. Are we listening to God's voice and reading His Word, or are we looking to the media or the culture for guidance first? Sometimes the distinction isn't so easy to see, especially when something scary is going on around us. The mountain cave can look pretty inviting sometimes.
I should mention here that Gideon does eventually go on to lead the Israelites and defeat the enemy. Through an ingenious plan to distract them, the Israelites gain the upper hand and witness a spectacle as God protects them. The enemy eventually turns on each other! Judges 7:22 recounts, "When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the Lord caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords."
Remarkable what happens when God shows up, isn't it? Gideon was afraid, but he was faithful also. One thing does not necessarily preclude the other, as long as we don't continue walking in fear forever. At some point - hopefully soon - we will come out on the other side of this pandemic. People will recover from the virus in many parts of the world (and they already are). And when it is time to come out of our caves, we will go courageously and boldly, because we will trust that God lights the way.
Stay safe, be wise, and when it is time to go back out into society, do so with courage and joy.
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