Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Part of the reason this post got delayed is that I wrote down a reference incorrectly when I was making my list and I had to go back to the concordance to see what it should have been. That should have been a simple thing, but just getting around to pulling out that massive tome was a thing, lol. But I have corrected my error and am moving forward, lol.
And I decided to split our time in Joshua into two posts, because, out of the eight verses that reference heart/ hearts, half of them reference fear.
Did you know fear is a solvent that melts hearts? All references today from the NIV 84.
(Rahab speaking) "We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. When we heard of it, our hearts [Strong's H3824] melted and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below." Josh. 2:10 - 11
Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the LORD had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts [Strong's H3824] melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. - Josh. 5:1
When they returned, they said to Joshua, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." So about three thousand men went up, but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this, the hearts [Strong's H3824] of the people melted and became like water. -- Josh. 7: 3 -5
(Caleb speaking) "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts [Strong's H3820] of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly." -- Josh. 14: 7-8
Can I just be honest? I was really surprised to see that the last reference uses a different Hebrew word, Leb, instead of Lebab, which is what we have been seeing over and over and is what is used in the first three references.
Which immediately set me on a rabbit trail to figure out why....what's the difference? I found that Leb is actually a form of Lebab (the 'b's are pronounced as 'v's, for what it's worth); both connotate the center, or innermost part, and they are used for identical meanings...almost interchangeably. But Strong's definitions seem to put a little more emphasis on emotions with Leb and possibly a little more emphasis on the actual heart (the organ) and the intellect and courage with Lebab. But it's a very slight difference. Someone who is a true Hebrew scholar could probably discern the difference based on the spelling but I'm not anywhere near that level. For what we are looking at here, it's probably not enough of a difference to affect things.
I can categorize these verses several ways...two deal with fear in Israel; two deal with fear in their enemies. Three deal with reputation...word of mouth...hearsay; one deals with an actual battle. Of the two that deal with Israel's fear, one involves fear that comes as a result of presumption and the other is fear that comes from a lack of faith. Both involve not consulting/ listening to God; doing things based on human reasoning instead of what God spoke.
But it's interesting that a heart that has melted from fear becomes incapable of doing anything. For those who were opposing God's people, their fear was a protection for the Israelites while they re-circumcised the men...a very vulnerable few days for them. But fear kept everyone away. But for God's people...the fear came as a result of not asking God (presumption) or not listening to God (refusing to believe). In both cases, it was disastrous.
So, how does this apply to fear today? In an increasingly violent world...how do we deal with fear?
Rahab found herself in the camp of the enemies of Israel...and she abandoned her people to join with the Hebrews, and so saved herself and her family. She took action in the face of fear...moving toward God. For the Israelites themselves, dealing with the fear was a long lesson in obedience; one they didn't always remember, as there was 40 years in between the two referenced incidents. But...after the debacle at Ai, they DID seek God and they DID follow his instructions and then...they got a do-over and won the second time, defeating two entities instead of just one.
It is a fallen world, and faith is not an absolute guarantee there won't be horrible things to endure. It's not for nothing that we see the phrase 'the one who endures to the end' over and over in Revelation. But an assurance of following God will go a long way to taking the solvent power out of fear.
