Fighting Fear with Fear

Bill Brown ... Xiamen University
Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning." Exodus 20:20 NIV

"A single spark can start a forest fire." Mao Zedong

"A single Spark can stop a forest fire." Bill Brown

Author Jill Briscoe shared during a Hong Kong conference how during her youth in war-time London her sister warned her against going to a wild party. When she refused to listen, her sister said, "Well, be careful. If you got pregnant, think what it would do to Dad." During the party, when Jill refused to pair off and head for the upstairs bedrooms with the others, the boy with her said, "You're just afraid of what your father will do to you."

Jill replied, "No, I'm afraid of what this would do to my Father."

Jill's fear was not just of her father but for her father because she loved him. And this healthy fear probably kept her from making many youthful mistakes that could have destroyed her life. It is the same way with fear of our Heavenly Father.

NonChristians often criticize the Bible for warning us to "Fear God." Why fear a loving Father? Exodus 20:20 even seems rather contradictory, with "Do not be afraid" followed with "the fear of God will be with you!" But the fear of our Father is like Jill's fear of and for her father, who wanted the best for her, that she could live a life without fear.

I love my sons and would have preferred that they never fear me. But during the years that they were omniscient teens, if they would not obey me out of love or respect, I preferred they obey me out of fear, because I wanted to protect them from harm that could have lasting consequences.

In the same way, our Father's goal is not to "spoil" his child's fun by limiting us, but to make life even more enjoyable and rewarding, and to free us from the fear of harm or failure.

Fear Fights Fear Uzziah was only 16 when he became King, and he reigned in in Jerusalem 52 years. It is written, "He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success." 2 Chronicles 26:5 NIV.

Zechariah instructed Uzziah to fear God, not because God wanted to hurt him, but because God wanted to ensure Uzziah freedom from failure and fear of others. As Jeremiah 29:11 so clearly puts it, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." NIV

I was delighted to become Xiamen's "Firefighting Ambassador" in 2006 because, like many American children, I wanted to be a firefighter when I was a child. I did become a volunteer fire fighter in Taiwan, and I learned firsthand that sometimes the only defense from fire was to set a strategic fire around us to destroy the encoraching fire's fuel.

In today's chaotic world, our media daily proves the truth of Mao's "a single flame can start a forest fire". The news networks fan small worries into overpowering and debilitating fears that assault us from all directions. But the Bible teaches, "Fear God...fear not." Our healthy fear of our Father can be the fire that fights fire--a strong wall that does not limit us but frees us and empowers us.

"Fear God...fear not."

"The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the LORD our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today." Deuteronomy 6:24 NIV

A Candle in the Gale

Related Verses:
Exo 18:21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
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