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FEAR: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
Jon Burgess“Then hear the LORD’s message to the remnant of Judah. This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and live there, the very war and famine you fear will catch up to you, and you will die there.” Jeremiah 42:15-16 NLT
The remnant of Judah sounded pretty convincing when they told the prophet Jeremiah they were willing to do whatever God told them to do no matter what. The whole time they were just hoping that God would be in agreement with them. They were certain they had the solution to their problems before ever approaching God. They thought for sure moving to Egypt would be their salvation from Babylon. They feared Babylon captivity and looked at Egypt as there covering. Why are we always trying to go back to Egypt? They didn't want guidance from God, they wanted agreement. They wanted God to bless what they were doing not to do what God was blessing. Fear had already seared the false solution into their brain. They were determined to run away though God said "Stay here in this land... For I am with you and will save you from his power." (Jer 42:10-11). Instead of receiving this prophecy of Gods provision by faith they gave into the self-fulfilling prophecy of fear. They thought they were running from trouble but they were running into it when they decided to run from God's will.
God's will won't necessarily make sense. Our fear will often sound much more convincing and logical then what God is asking us to do. The remnant of Judah had logic on their side, but chose to leave the Lord's side in the process. Pastor Wayne has said it this way, "Agreement is not the same as obedience." Many of us think we are being obedient to God but, we are simply in agreement because what He asked us to do is what we wanted to do anyway. What happens when God asks us to do something we don't agree with? What happens when our fear sounds louder then our Lord? What happens when we are certain that if we stay we will fall? If we obey the Lord won't we lose everything? That's when we tend to set about saving ourselves. The very thing we fear becomes the guiding force leading us into a self-fulfilling prophecy. What do I want? My prophecy or God's? Will I be led by what my fear says or where my faith stands?
Looking back at my life I can see how the worst times in my life have been when I have chosen the "logic" of fear over obedience to Your will. I wouldn't be where I am in my relationships or ministry if it hadn't been for the multiple times You told me to stay while my fear was telling me to go. I don't want to just be in agreement with You I want to be obedient to You no matter what You say!
