Genesis 26: 24 That night the Lord appeared to him and said “I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you, I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham.”

In Spring of 2017 the phrase “do not be afraid” played in my head for two weeks after the Ophthalmologist told me I needed cataract surgery in both eyes. How do you spell terrified?!  I began to focus on the fact that Jesus often addressed fear in his followers. He scolded the disciples about their fear and lack of faith in the midst of a storm (Matthew 8:26), but in John 14:27 he comforted them as his departure loomed. He even addressed Jairus’ fear concerning the death of his daughter. (Mark 5:36) For these people their fear was genuine and the circumstances were real. So as I faced my own reality I claimed Jesus’ assurance for myself.

I also decided to find where in the Old Testament these words were first spoken and to whom. It turned out that God told Abram in Genesis 15:1 “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield and your very great reward.” Next, in Genesis 26, after Isaac had lied to King Abimelech of the Philistines that Rebekah was his sister and not his wife, and was found out, the King though he felt betrayed, assigned land and decreed protection for them. Isaac lived and prospered to the point where the Philistines began to envy him. As a result the King ordered him to pack up and move with his family and all his possessions out of his land because he had become too rich and powerful.

Isaac moved to Gerar but faced new challenges. Every time his herdsmen opened up a well the local herdsmen battled them for it. Finally their third attempt was not opposed so Isaac named the well Rehoboth saying: “Now the Lord has given us room and we will flourish in the land.” With no explanation the Word says “From there he went on to Beersheba.” That was where God appeared to him at night and gave him the promise in verse 24 quoted above.

There is something about night-time – not only is it physically dark but it is often the time when our deep-seated fears are magnified and often it becomes impossible to silence our thoughts. I believe God reads our thoughts and even when we don’t voice them, the Holy Spirit breaks in upon us to bring rebuke, guidance, and most often reassurance. God sees the struggles, the fears, and the hopes we each have. At night, even in the dark, I think he just wants to remind us that as he was the God of Abraham and Isaac he is our covenant-keeping God, the Great I AM. He is with us and we need not be afraid.