In Deuteronomy 7, Moses is preparing the people of Israel to enter the Promise Land. God is going to be faithful to His covenant with Abraham and bring Israel, a wondering nation, into their very own dwelling. However, in order to bring Israel in, the Lord is going to drive out the current occupants of this land. 7 nations, mightier and more numerous than Israel, will be driven from the land because of their great wickedness. But there’s a catch here - the Lord will drive out these nations through and by Israel driving out these nations. Since Israel is outnumbered and outmatched, that’s a perfect scenario for fear, dread, worry and doubt to set in.

God says - NO! “you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt” (v18) In other words, outnumbered and outmatched never happens to God!

Then three verses later comes this great truth that shatters all forms of dread - “You shall not be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God” (7:21) The sole reason and foundation that crumbles fear is the presence of God among and with His people - simply because He is great and awesome!

Dear believer, the Lord is present with you always! “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20). Whatever or whoever you fear, plug that fear right into v21 in the place of the word “them.” “You shall not be in dread of ________” - you fill in the blank - but keep going - don’t stop with “don’t dread” remember why you don’t have to dread, don’t have to fear - “the Lord your God is in your midst!” When fear grips you, you can grip Him! When doubt slips in, you can rest in Him. When dread clouds your heart, you can trust in Him. He is ever with you, and He is great and awesome! Dwell on His faithfulness to you in Christ. Dwell on His promise to do good to you in Christ. Dwell on His unfailing character as seen in Christ. Dwell on His presence with you in Christ.