Garry spoke this morning from Gen 45:21-25. Gen 45:24 gives us Joseph’s advice to his brothers, literally ‘as you travel, do not be overcome by fear.’ Perhaps his brothers thought that once Jacob was in Egypt, Joseph would take his revenge on them. Fear can be positive, preserving us from danger, preventing harm and keeping us safe, but fear can also be something which controls us and restrains us in a negative way. It can act as a cage to imprison us, as a blockage to the purposes of God. So often, when God speaks to us, fear arises, but at that point, we have a choice. God wants us, like Joshua, to choose to be strong and courageous rather than to give way to fear (see Josh 1:1-9).

That was a turning point in Israel’s history. Joshua knew that God wanted His people to enter the Promised Land, but when the spies had previously gone in, the report ten of them gave was negative, laced with fear. (Numbers 13:26-14:9) The people of God chose to ignore Caleb and Joshua and believe the negative reports; they chose fear over faith. Joshua, however, chose the way of faith and went in to take control of the land.

Whenever God speaks, we have a choice: to listen to God or to listen to the voice of fear. Ps 56:1-4 reminds us that when we are afraid, we should trust in God. David knew what it was to fear. He was persecuted by Saul; later, the Amalekites raided Ziklag and took all his womenfolk and property (1 Sam 30). Still he chose to trust in God rather than to fear and regained all that he had lost. The disciples knew what it was to fear (especially after the crucifixion), but when Jesus was raised from the dead, they were transformed.They were then able to overcome all fear and threats to stand firm in faith.

Jesus promises us peace in every situation (John 14:27).The way to overcome fear is to trust in God (John 14:1).Daily we face the choice: fear or faith, captivity or courage, agitation or peace. When we choose to trust in the love God has for us, His love will dissolve and drive out all fear.

On this Mothering Sunday, Dave spoke about mothers – the definition being a woman who has given birth to a child, but also broadened to those who care for children, even if they are not her own. The joy of motherhood can be exaggerated (often confined to when the children are in bed!), but mothers inevitably sacrifice for their children. Children are self-centred and mothers may well crave peace, but a child can do something which melts the heart and makes every sacrifice worthwhile. Troubles and difficulties fade away when a mother sees her children launching forth and making her proud.

God says even if a mother could forget her own child (which is rare indeed), He would never forget His children. (Is 49;15) We are God’s children,.He has sacrificed so much for us, cares for us and loves us with an unfailing love. He supports and comforts us just as a mother does. He is the greatest mother (and father) we could ever hope to have.

In the realm of fantasy and science-fiction novels, the concept of parallel universes (a world conceived of as coexisting with and having certain similarities to the known world but different from it in some fundamental way) is quite common. C. S. Lewis wrote of the world of Narnia which co-existed with the London of the 1940s; Star Trek episodes often allude to alternate realities with different outcomes to the ‘standard’ world. The ‘metaverse’ is a phrase used to describe a series of digital spaces which can be traversed seamlessly; the idea of different universes is something we can imagine, even if scientific reality has yet to catch up with imagination!

The Bible speaks of two kingdoms and two worlds: the physical world we inhabit and can see, touch, hear and feel, and the spiritual world which is invisible to our physical senses but which, it declares, is as real; the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil. (Eph 6:10-20, see also 2 Kings 6:16-17) Christians live with a foot in both camps, so to speak. We live on earth, but our citizenship is in heaven. (Phil 3:20) We face the temptations of the world (‘the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life’, as John puts it in 1 John 2:16), but the Spirit of God also lives within us to produce the life of God. (Romans 8:1-17)

The book of Revelation acts as the unveiling of this unseen universe, with John giving us many glimpses into what he saw in heaven (the common name given to this spiritual universe.) In Revelation 11:15-19, we see another such scene, with loud voices in heaven proclaiming, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Rev 11:15) A time will come, the Bible confidently declares, when the unseen universe will be visible to all, when Jesus will come again, not in obscurity but in power and visible to all. At this point, the confident declaration that ‘You have taken Your great power and begun to reign’ (Rev 11:17) will be heard, and true judgment and justice will be seen. The imagery of this scene, with its temple, ark of the covenant, flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm, contains elements with which we can all relate, but the truths of this invisible universe made visible are beyond our imagination or wildest dreams. Nonetheless, the Bible declares this universe to be real and true, and the response of the twenty-four elders (symbolising the whole church) remains valid: they fell on their faces and worshipped God. (Rev 11:16) This, too, should be our response as we consider the sovereignty of God and the reality of His kingdom and rule and reign.