Do Not Be Afraid, Jacob

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Do Not Be Afraid, Jacob

Date: Apr. 23, 2024

Passage

Jeremiah 46:27-47:7 (ESV)

27   “But fear not, O Jacob my servant,
    nor be dismayed, O Israel,
  for behold, I will save you from far away,
    and your offspring from the land of their captivity.
  Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,
    and none shall make him afraid.
28   Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
      declares the LORD,
    for I am with you.
  I will make a full end of all the nations
    to which I have driven you,
    but of you I will not make a full end.
  I will discipline you in just measure,
    and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

1 The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck down Gaza.

2   “Thus says the LORD:
  Behold, waters are rising out of the north,
    and shall become an overflowing torrent;
  they shall overflow the land and all that fills it,
    the city and those who dwell in it.
  Men shall cry out,
    and every inhabitant of the land shall wail.
3   At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his stallions,
    at the rushing of his chariots, at the rumbling of their wheels,
  the fathers look not back to their children,
    so feeble are their hands,
4   because of the day that is coming to destroy
    all the Philistines,
  to cut off from Tyre and Sidon
    every helper that remains.
  For the LORD is destroying the Philistines,
    the remnant of the coastland of Caphtor.
5   Baldness has come upon Gaza;
    Ashkelon has perished.
  O remnant of their valley,
    how long will you gash yourselves?
6   Ah, sword of the LORD!
    How long till you are quiet?
  Put yourself into your scabbard;
    rest and be still!
7   How can it be quiet
    when the LORD has given it a charge?
  Against Ashkelon and against the seashore
    he has appointed it.”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 46:46:27

  Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
      declares the LORD,
    for I am with you.
  I will make a full end of all the nations
    to which I have driven you,
    but of you I will not make a full end.
  I will discipline you in just measure,
    and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”

God gave Jeremiah his prophesies of judgment on the surrounding nations, not so that Israel could gloat, but so they could know God, who punishes the guilty for their sins and also restores.

If we know this God and trust him, we don’t have to be afraid, no matter what happens. By faith in Jesus, we can be God’s chosen people and know his salvation. This world is like a land of exile, where we are living as foreigners, but God saves us out of the world. We can know true spiritual peace and security (46:27).

We can also have a sense of identity as God’s servant who is used for his good purpose. We suffer just like everyone else, but we know that our troubles will not destroy us, but that God uses all things for our good (Ro 8:28). Our sufferings are God’s discipline, just as a Father disciplines the children he loves (46:28).

Prayer: Father, thank you for letting me be one of your chosen people through faith in Jesus. I want to overcome fear with faith, and to trust that even my sufferings are your good discipline.

One Word: Do not be afraid.

Isaac Obeys God and Stays in the Land

Genesis 26:1-35

Key Verse: 26:6

Isaac and Abimelech

So Isaac settled in Gerar.

Today's Question

How is Christ a king?

See answer and references