We are in chapter fourteen of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase. אַל־תִּירָאוּ֒ fear not. It is used 74 times in the Old Testament. אַל is an adverb of negation attached to the front of the word יָרֵא fear which we have previous looked at. So our phrase is fear not. Almost all the uses of our word are applied to God being the one instructing his people not to be afraid of what they are facing because of his relationship with them. We find our word used when God’s presence has appeared to a person in a special way that overwhelms them. Judges 6:22-23 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” But the Lord said to him, “Peace! אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” God’s love and presence is another reason we don’t have to fear. Zephaniah 3:16-17 On that day they will say to Jerusalem, אַל־תִּירָא֙ “Do not fear, Zion...The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: אַל־תִּירָא֙ “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Daniel 10:12 Then he continued, אַל־תִּירָא֙ “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. God’s has a future plan for his people is another reason we don’t have to fear. Jeremiah 30:10 אַל־תִּירָא֙ So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. God will give us success in carrying out the purposes he gives us so we don’t have to fear the outcomes. 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17 This is what the Lord says to you: אַל־תִּירָא֙ ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.’
God instructs us not to allow the influence of others around us to change our relationship with God. Jeremiah 10:5 Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. God working to protect us with his great power is the reason given why we don’t have to fear. Genesis 15:1 After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: אַל־תִּירָא֙ “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Nehemiah 4:14 אַל־תִּירָא֙Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes. This is the sense our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, אַל־תִּירָא֙ “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. I’ll close with a few verses from this great chapter in Isaiah. Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14 אַל־תִּירָא֙ So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not fear; I will help you. אַל־תִּירָא֙ Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.
