Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” Matthew 2:7-8
When I was six years old, my Mom told me that if I “fibbed” my nose would grow long like Pinocchio. I believed her. She told me she saw me looking carefully in the mirror to see if my nose had grown later. Of course that often repeated story always brought much laughter, but in the moment of a six year old, the fear was real.
In Matthew 2, we see King Herod send the Magi to find Jesus and instruct them to let him know where he was so he could go and worship this King himself. He lied. He never had any intention of worshiping the King of the Jews, Jesus of Nazareth.
Herod was an ungodly, sick man threatened by a baby boy and the belief Jesus might usurp his authority. His paranoid fears made him a weak leader whose unhealthy ego had disastrous consequences. He didn’t want anyone knocking him off his throne, so all parents would suffer the death of their sons two and under, in his plot to kill Jesus.
God wired our brains to experience fear. There is a reason and purpose for our fear as we respond to triggering stimuli. When God says, “Do not fear” he is not commanding us to shut off that part of our brain.
The real issue God wants us to wrestle with is where we go when we fear. Where do you go with your fears? How do you deal with them? Are you wrong to feel fear when you’re not sure how to pay next month’s rent or when you get that dire health diagnosis or when your job is on the line? No. You’re not wrong.
God simply wants us to come to Him. He helps us take the next step of faith when we “fear” in His presence! Unfortunately, no one will be able to escape fear in this sinful and broken world. It can be paralyzing. It is powerful. God is more powerful and we have direct access to His comfort, wisdom and strength!
In the midst of a storm, in a boat with his disciples who panicked, and woke him up crying “help” Jesus said “Peace, be still.” He didn’t speak it to the disciples but to the storm. The disciples were in His presence, they cried out, and Jesus calmed the storm. Herod did not cry out to God, but was consumed by his fear and evil.
When others sink in fear, He lifts you to places where storms cannot drown you. (Isaiah 33:18)
Emmanuel! God is with us!
Deb Hill
EFCC Member