Fearful Contentment

Reading and listening to people talk, it seems there is a long list of what people fear. Here are the top five from my own small world:

• The economy will collapse or we will experience some kind of terrible recession.
• “The jab” or more specifically the side effects it has brought with it. The fear of what this has done seems greater than the fear of the virus though that is increasing again (evidenced by more masks in the grocery store).
• The fear of exercising our “right” to free speech in public places for fear of being cancelled or labelled as a hater.
• What’s happening in public schools; the complaints about “grooming,” identity politics (mostly sexual identity to young children), and the lack of good moral or academic teaching.
• The Russia and Ukraine war. This has a couple of questions like “Should we even be there or giving them so much money?” and “How can I help the Ukrainians who have been bombed and misplaced?”

Christians might add losing religious freedom to that list as Christianity is deliberately marginalized.

Counteracting these “fears” are the known truths about God.

• He rules over all the earth (1 Chronicles 29:11). .
• He is sovereign (1 Timothy 6:15).
• He is faithful and trustworthy (Psalm 119:38).
• He is just (Deuteronomy 32:4).
• He is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression (Numbers 14:18).

What our nation seems to fail to fear is the wrath of God when we fail to believe these truths and act accordingly. The scriptures clearly tell us that God is the “Ruler over all the earth.” He is the One who rules the nations. Yet, we appear to live without fear because, “Well, we are no longer a Christian nation,” as if that means He has no jurisdiction here. As Ruler over all, He has all authority over every nation and people, whether they (or we) believe Him or not. .

In Numbers 16 Moses is dealing with the murmuring discontentment of Israel because they were unhappy with their circumstances in the wilderness. In verses 41-42 the people gather and complain against Moses and Aaron. In verse 46 we learn that these two men quickly make atonement for the murmuring of the people before God as He had sent a plague on them because of it.

Hmm, judgment on a people who were complaining about their circumstances and ignoring God’s Word.

I do not claim to know why God has sent all of our current troubles. If we look for reasons why He could righteously judge this nation, it is a long list. He gives us (His people) what will be good for us in the long run. He also sometimes uses man’s evil actions to accomplish righteous goals.

“Fear not” is a regular command of God to His people.  He’s talking about our circumstances. We must know (and remember constantly) that we need to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13) in order to see His blessings (Deuteronomy 11).

Our hope lies with our great God and King, not with our national or state government. God says, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJV).

Knowing that God does not want us to fear our circumstances, that He is our source of hope when we love Him and obey His commands, here is one more verse to give us strength for the circumstances we are in: “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).

Fear does not have to lead to discontentment. We can speak the truth about our circumstances and still be content with where God has us for this time. His wrath is the thing we should truly fear.