From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "C & P Greene" <cfgreene@teleport.com>
Subject: Blessings of Joy to Each
Date: Sunday, September 10, 2000 7:07 AM

"The fear of man brings a snare,
 But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."  Proverbs 29:25

Abram, later to be named Abraham, gives us a good example of one who feared
man and took things into his own hands.  Genesis tells us of two incidents
of this.  We find the first in Chapter 12 when God called Abram out from his
country and his father's house.  The incident happened when he with his
wife, Lot and all his possessons went into Egypt because of a famine.  Vs.
10-20 tell the story, I will just give a few verses as follows:

"...He said to Sarai {Sarah} his wife, 'Indeed I know that you are a woman
of beautiful countenance.  Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see
you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but
they will let you live.  Please, say you are my sister, that it may be well
with me..."  Vs. 11-12
Because of her beauty she was taken into Pharaoh's house and Abram was
treated well because of her.  But Abram's trust should have been in the Lord
not in man!
"The Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of
Sarai...Pharaoh called Abram and said 'What is this you have done to me?
Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?...I might have taken her as
my wife...here is your wife; take her and go your way.'"  Vs. 17-19
Abraham was chosen of the Lord and He is able to protect that which is His!

Chapter 20 tells us, In Gerar, once again,  "Abraham said of Sarah his wife,
'She is my sister.'  And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah."
Vs.2
But God protects!!
"...God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to
him, 'Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken,
for she is a man's wife.'" Vs 3
This could have been a terrible disaster not only for Abimelech, but for
Abraham and Sarah and all that God had purposed in and through them.
Let me encourage you to read the whole account.

In the New Testament we find an account of the Hebrew leaders fearing man
rather than trusting in Jesus -- being man pleasers instead of pleasing God.
"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him
(Jesus), but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they
should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more
than the praise of God."  John 12:42-43

For another example in the New Testament read Galations 2:11-14 where
Peter withdrew from eating with the gentiles, 'fearing those who were of the
circumcision (Jews).'  And as the result even Barnabus was carried away
with the hypocrisy.  For 'the truth of the Gospel', the Apostle Paul rebuked
Peter 'in the presence of all.'

This is a word for all of us!!  Does not Romans 8:29 tells us that we are to
become conformed to the image of Christ Jesus?  And John 8:29 says,
"And He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left me alone, for I always do
the things that are pleasing to Him."   We are not to be man pleasers, but
we are to please God our Father.

Psalm 91 tells of the security of  the one who trusts in the Lord.
Vs.14-16 follow, but be sure to read the entire Psalm.
"Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
 I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
 I will be with him in trouble;
 I will rescure him, and honor him.
 Wtih a long life I will satisfy him,
 and let him behold My salvation."

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
 The righteous runs into it and is safe."  Proverbs 18:10

All praise to Almighty God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  With grateful
hearts we worship and adore Him!