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

There are so many things going on in the world today that can cause
people to be very fearful. Today I would like to share some Scripture that
tells of the snare of the fear of man and God's intervention.

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 and his wife, Lot and
all his possessions went into Egypt because of a famine. Verses 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! Vs. 17-19 tells us what happened,
"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.''

Abraham was chosen of the Lord and He is able to protect what 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.
I encourage you to read Chapter 20 for the whole scheme and God's
intervention.

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 23:42-43

For another example in the New Testament read Galatians 2:11-14 where
Peter withdrew from eating with the gentiles, 'fearing those who were of the
circumcision (Jews).' And as the result even Barnabas 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
be 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 our Father.
Romans 8:8-9 tells Believers,
"...Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the
flesh but in the Spirit..."

Thank you Father for our precious Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus! And thank
you for the Holy Spirit who leads and guides. With grateful hearts we
worship, adore and give You praise, honor and glory. Amen