# 294 Fear Not

The Book of Genesis

Day 294

Ge 32:1 So Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  2 When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp." And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Jacob takes off for home and is met by the angels of God. I wonder what THAT looked like? This time it was not a dream, he actually saw them and said, “This is God’s camp.” The King James reads, “This is God’s host.”

The word “host,” means “encampment or army.” This must’ve been one impressive sight for Jacob and quite a privilege! Not many people get a glimpse into the realities of the unseen spiritual realm. Let me tell you about another similar incident that is recorded in Scripture in 2 Kings, 6.

Elisha’s servant was very concerned because the Syrian army  had sent a “host” of horses and chariots, and they had surrounded the city….it didn’t look good, and he said, “Alas my master, how shall we do?” Elijah answered, “Fear not: “ Ah, there’s those words again, “fear not!!” God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7)

I find it interesting that the phrase here in 1 Kings is followed by a colon punctuation mark. It’s like the Holy Spirit  is telling us to “fear not, and here are some reasons not to fear. Check out His reason for not fearing, his very next words were: “For those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

Ha! At this point Elisha’s servant was probably thinking, “Excuse me, but we are totally surrounded here.” But Elisha prays that God would open his servant’s eyes to the spiritual reality taking place in this battle that was about to unfold. And the servant saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around them and the Syrian army. The Syrian army didn’t know it, but they were surrounded by God’s army, they were in big trouble:

What a “fear removing” privilege to be given such a glimpse.

Well, Jacob was on his way home to face his brother Esau, who at last report wanted to kill him. How reassuring it must’ve been for him to meet up with this army of God along the way.

You or I will likely never be given such an opportunity to physically see the angels around us, but know this as you walk this road of life as a follower of Jesus Christ:  Seen or unseen, they are with us! Speaking of angels in Heb 1:14, we read, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”

Fear not brother. Fear not sister. God’s angels will minister to you in your hour of need.