**I’ve shared this story before, but it is part of a series I’m working through in my brain that I’m calling, “Biblical Bad Advice.” More to come. 😁
His eyes were full of fear. He was alert and panicking, but couldn’t speak because of the tube in his throat, keeping the breath in his lungs. He and his family had decided to take him off life-support and knew he wouldn’t survive long once the ventilator was removed. I was called to the room to offer prayer and support. I gathered with his family around the hospital bed. He kept trying so furiously to speak. I looked into his frightened eyes and asked, “Are you afraid?” He nodded his head frantically, then rested back on the pillow and tears streamed from the corner of his eyes. He was afraid and just needed to say it. “It’s ok to be afraid,” I said. “This is hard.” I took a deep breath, intending for us all to be still and silent for a few moments to acknowledge his feelings. But the silence was sharply broken as a well-intentioned relative shouted, “DON’T BE AFRAID! THE BIBLE SAYS DO NOT BE AFRAID!” The silence shifted back to panic as he writhed around on the bed, again trying to speak. All I could do was sigh and offer to pray in the hope that peace might be known to him amid his fear.
The Bible says, do not be afraid. Yeah. It does. I can’t really argue with that. It says it most explicitly in Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (ESV)
But, let me confess one of my least favorite phrases in the Christian vernacular is “The Bible says…” I know I might immediately send a few people running to tell the heresy police, but the Bible and God are not one and the same. I deeply value the Bible. I read and reflect on it almost daily. It is one of the primary sources I look to as I learn to see and know and listen to the living God. I’ve studied (and continue to study) it deeply. I have a Master’s Degree in Divinity. The point is, I don’t approach the Bible casually. That said, I don’t believe the Bible is:
The sole source for God’s people to hear God’s voice
Intended to be primarily an instruction manual or a book of rules
Understood well if my interpretation is removed from the context of the original writers/readers
Can be read without acknowledging the bias of our own culture, experience, etc.
What that well-intentioned relative blurted out that day is a perfect example of why. Her apparent understanding of “Don’t be afraid!” sounded like that of one who hears those words spoken to Joshua as if coming from a high commander shouting orders to troops as they prepare for battle. As if their fear was a violation of a direct order. “HAVE I NOT COMMANDED YOU TO BE STRONG AND COURAGEOUS??!!! STOP BEING COWARDS!! GET OUT THERE AND FIGHT!”
But does that sound like a loving God? (That’s my bias by the way… to ALWAYS read scripture first through a lens where I believe God is loving and kind and good.)
If you read Joshua 1:9 in the context of all that is happening at this point in the story, you might recognize how difficult a time it was for Joshua and the rest of God’s people. Moses (their leader) was dead. There were known, significant obstacles ahead… big battles, rivers to cross, etc. Their very lives were on the line and Joshua was now in charge of leading them forward. There was a lot at stake and I imagine Joshua (and others) were afraid… really afraid.
High commander god might yell, “BEING AFRAID IS STUPID! JUST DO WHAT I TOLD YOU TO DO! ARE YOU WORTHLESS AND WEAK?!”
But a loving God might take a different approach. A loving God would recognize and acknowledge Joshua’s fear. And instead of chastizing him for it, a loving God would remind him that he is not alone.
The tricky part of understanding this is the question, “Have I not commanded you?” But this IS NOT God barking out insensitive orders. Instead, it is a way (in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament) to say, “I repeat,” or “Let me remind you.” As in, “Let me remind you of what I’ve been telling you (be sure to read Joshua 1:1-8 to get a sense of this.)” “Let me remind you of all we’ve been through and overcome together to this point. And I have no intent on leaving you now. So, let’s do this thing! Yes, it is going to be hard. I know you are scared, but I am with you… and that will be what makes the difference. We’ll do this together.”
Do you see the difference?
One way reinforces and even exasperates fear further. The other acknowledges it and accompanies it and even overcomes it.
So, let me remind you. You too can be strong and courageous, even when you are afraid. Why? Because you are not alone. The Lord, your God is with you.