Do Not Be Afraid

"I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt."
GENESIS 46:3
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Do Not Be Afraid
God appears in a vision and says: "Do not be afraid or despair, as though you were sinning against My promise. But I order you to proceed, and I endorse your descent." . . . From this one can conclude that although God does not deceive in His promises, He nevertheless reserves their execution for Himself and carries out His promises in such a way that everything seems contradictory and far different from the Word. . . With this He tries us. This is God's wonderful government in regard to which Paul exclaims (Romans 11:33-34): "O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?" . . . My pastor consoles me and says: "You have been adopted by God as His son. You shall be a child of life. You shall be an heir of eternal life." But despite this God hurls me into a trial and makes me doubtful, perplexed, and despairing by confronting me with things that conflict with the promise. . .. Satan likewise attacks us with darts (Ephesians 6:16) and stratagems of every kind, and here I feel and see that God is punishing me and exposing me to the gravest evils and dangers. Nevertheless, He has mercy on me; for I have His promise.
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