Genesis 43:23  And he (Joseph) said, Peace be to you, fear not:  Your God and the God of your father (Jacob), hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money.  And he (Joseph) brought Simeon out unto them.  (KJV)

As I prepared to post this, I struggled with the not so unique title.  I mean, counting fear nots?  But if there really are 365 fear nots in Scripture shouldn’t we count them to be sure?  Or do we just believe what we are told?  I am not normally a skeptic but I really want to know are there 365 fear nots in Scripture……….one for every day of the year.  It sounds good, but I need to know is it accurate.  I will go ahead and tell you, using Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance I can only find 88. So, numbering is no longer necessary, but I still want to study these 88 and find out all the reasons I need not fear.  This Chicken Little wants to soar like an eagle and fear is a weight tied to my soul.  You want to know what I am afraid of?  Stick around awhile, it will all come out.  It would be quicker to tell you what I am not afraid of: Water.  I am not afraid of the water.  It is my second home.  There is nothing better than being deep in the ocean and blowing bubbles and gazing up through the emerald blue and seeing the light of the sun refracted through the water providing light into the depths.  (I sense some of you gasping for air at the thought!)  I recently went to Cancun and spent a couple of glorious hours snorkeling the reef with my sister.  And yes, I saw a shark.  It is his home after all.  He lay sleeping on the bottom nestled safely in the reef.  I guess sharks can be afraid too.   If I had let him run me out of the water I would have missed the thousand other gifts I encountered:  coral, sponges, sea fans, fish bright and beautiful, warm water, lobster, sea shells, fun with my sister I see only occasionally, and the list goes on.   Fear does that.  It robs us of the beauty around us and limits our experiences.  Fear of what people think could rob me of this experience if I let it.  I am not perfect and do not claim perfection.  I am a sojourner just like everyone else, taking one step at a time and doing the next thing the best I know how.

Joseph’s brothers are in a predicament.  The money they had used to pay for grain was put back in their sacks and they fear for their lives.  Simeon their brother had been held for ransom.  The brothers have not yet discovered that Joseph is the brother they sold into slavery! (And you think your family is dysfunctional?)  But what they meant for evil, God used to save this people He had promised to make into a great nation through whom all nations would be blessed.

Joseph is God’s spokesperson.  He is in a position of importance in Egypt.  It is through his God given wisdom that Egypt was prepared for this famine in the land.  So much so that they have grain to spare and sell.  He speaks to his brothers and reminds them of the promise of God to them and their father to make them a great nation and tells them that it is GOD who has provided the treasure in their sacks.  FEAR NOT he tells them.  God is responsible for keeping His promises.  The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. (I Thessalonians 5:24).

Joseph said, PEACE.  He did not want his brothers afraid.

Peace to you today.  Fear Not, God is in charge and He will keep His word.  Take a deep breath, dive deep, the water is fine and there is treasure buried we have yet to find.
Yvonne