Jonah 1-4 / Revelation 5 / Psalm 133 / Proverbs 29:26-27
The fear of man is a terrible trap. I’m not talking about being afraid that you’ll be physically hurt, although we should be cautious with strangers. I’m referring to being afraid to fully walk in our God-calling. Sometimes we’re afraid to reveal ourselves as God has created us, and that includes speaking Truth when He prompts us to do so.
When I’ve read the story of Jonah, I have considered him to be kind of a wimp. God spoke to him and gave him a specific task to perform. Instead of Jonah obeying God, he got on a ship going in the opposite direction. He was so afraid of God or the assignment (the story doesn’t specifically tell us which), that he chose to run instead of obeying.
There is an indicator in the story of what Jonah was afraid. Jonah 4:1-3 gives us a clue about Jonah’s hesitancy in doing what God told him. The New Living Translation, (NLT) spells outhis responselike this: “This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So, he complained to the Lord about it: ‘Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.’”
Our clue is there at the end: Jonah was afraid to obey God for fear that the words he spoke would not come to pass. That is an indicator of a fear of man. Jonah was more concerned for himself than for the salvation of a city all because he cared more for his own reputation.
How many times are we guilty of the same behavior? God wants us to be His mouthpieces on the earth. To do so will sometimes cost us our good name. People won’t believe what we say, and they will reject us personally. It can be a lonely life to walk out the calling God placed within you.
However, if we would remember that all of us have the same hesitations and concerns when wondering how to reveal our unique design in the earth. Another scripture comes to mind when considering this topic of the fear of man. When Peter was imprisoned for preaching about Jesus, upon his release he was warned not to speak in Jesus’ Name again. This was Peter’s response in Acts 5:29: “But Peter and the apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority.’” (NLT).
Peter didn’t simply face rejection; he had been put into prison for speaking the Truth about Jesus Christ. Most of us will never face prison for speaking about our faith. Yet, we shrink back in fear. Let’s not be afraid of the rejection and judgment of men, rather let’s be concerned that they must hear and receive truth and eternal life.
