We are to fear God. Inasmuch as we rightly fear him we shan't have to be afraid of him in the sense of undifferentiated terror. Inasmuch as we fear him we shan't have to fear anything else or anyone else.
In the time that remains this morning we should like look at several instances in scripture where God's people did indeed fear him, and therefore could hear and obey his command, "Fear not!", in the midst of life's turbulence and trial.
I: -- The first is from the story of Elijah, Israel's greatest prophet. A drought has dried up the land. People are starving. Elijah asks a widow to make him the smallest piece of baked bread, a bun. She tells him she has only a small jar of cornmeal and a cruse (a small flask) of oil. With the cornmeal and the oil she's going to prepare a smidgen of food for herself and her son (their last meal), and then mother and son will die together. "Include me in your meal," says Elijah; "you will have enough. Fear not! The cornmeal and the oil won't run out until it rains and the drought ends." Not run out? The resources they need will be supplied?
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