Fear Not

The Interplay Between Interpretation

Chapter 29

December 5

Judges 6:23

But the Lord said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die."

____________________________________

Preface

How we interpret the events that happen to, or in front of us is one of the best indicators of where we fall on the F2F spectrum.

Most unexpected events create the 'novelty effect.' This is when our brains see something it's never seen before and, for just a moment, freezes. This freeze moment is a form of shock. It's like calling upon a computer to perform a function for which it has no programming. The difference is, after the computer buffers for a moment and then returns an error or "file not found" message, people buffer and then, finding nothing in the files of their past experience, shift to pull from experiences or knowledge that may approximate an explanation for the event.

It's who we are in that gap moment, the buffer point, that determines where we are on the F2F spectrum. People who predominantly operate more from the fear side, having cultivated more fear-based habitual reactions, will pull from their worse-case scenario, or dooms-day files to fill the gap with negative meaning. This is the filter they choose to put in place through which to interpret the event.

But those of us who've done the work to operate more from the faith side, will either have the presence of mind to see the event in isolation, recognizing its novelty isn't good or bad and doesn't need an interpretive filter, or will pull from our best-case scenario files to fill the gap with positive meaning. Granted, the former response, seeing without judgement, is the highest standard to which people can rise. As such, it's incredibly rare. But by simply choosing faith, in response to fear reactions, will over time replace fear (as a knee-jerk response) with faith as the first thing that occurs within self. Make this choice enough times, shifting to the faith side of the spectrum, and we fast track ourselves to the highest standard of faith expression.

Until then, we 'choose' faith over fear; especially, when fear arises, if we want to not only give ourselves the best chance at acquiring the benefit packaged in the new event, but too if we want to more consistently get the best out of life that God offers.

Today's verse, revealing Gideon's reaction to what he saw, provides us with profound insight in the interplay between faith and fear and how they affect our interpretation of events.

____________________________________

In the Hebrew 'peace' is salom. This is expressed in two different forms, differentiated by which type of accent mark is placed above the letter 'o.' Both forms, though, come from the root 'Salam,' which means to 'be safe' (in mind, body or estate.) In this regard, it can mean to be 'safe,' in the figurative sense; as in, being well, happy and friendly; or, in the abstract, in reference to one's 'welfare,' such as having health, prosperity and peace.

This same word has been translated multiple times into English in different verses throughout the bible, some of which include: familiar, fare, favor, friend, great, good health, perfect peace, prosperity, rest, safety, salute, and all is well.

'Estate' is defined as: 1 a: mode or condition of being: state b: social standing: status.

God said "Peace!" to Gideon because, after Gideon realized that he had seen the face of the Angel of the Lord, he believed he was going to die. This was a misinterpretation, on Gideon's part, of Exodus 33:20, where God told Moses "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live." Gideon didn't see the face of God. He saw the face of one of God's angels. So there was no need for him to worry.