Fear... The Sin Breeder.

Quick background: Solomon refuses to follow the Lord's commands so God tears the kingdom from Solomon's son by splitting the nation of Israel into two (Israel = north and Judah = south). Anyway, a man named Jeroboam acquires the northern half and God promises Jeroboam a dynasty just as enduring as the one of David if Jeroboam walks in God's ways and follows His commands. Jeroboam seems up to the challenge... until unjustified fear sends him into a whirlwind of sin, dragging an entire nation with him. 

According to Scripture, Jeroboam begins to taunt himself with thoughts of his people abandoning him for the leadership of King Rehoboam, the son of Solomon and the king of the southern nation, Judah. Jeroboam goes so far as to even fear for his life. Convinced his people will give their allegiance to another, Jeroboam creates two golden calves and persuades the Israelites to change the object of their worship and forfeit the travel to the temple in Jerusalem (which was in Judah). 

Jeroboam had nothing to fear... God had promised him a dynasty as enduring as that of David's! Yet, like so many of us, Jeroboam ignored God's promise and yielded to his emotions, emotions that resulted in a nationwide apostasy.  

But it really got me thinking... How many times has my sin been a result of irrational fear? 

...Has a fear of loneliness kept me in a spiritually dissatisfying relationship? Or has a fear of loneliness kept me from giving God my "right" to find love and be married? 

...Has a fear of discomfort kept me from accepting the lower paying job I feel called to take? 

...Has a fear of ridicule kept me from sharing my faith with certain friends?  

 What are you currently afraid of?