This week, I asked this question and received some really cool feedback. Which comes first, FEAR or DOUBT? Do you fear because of your doubts, or do you doubt because of your fears?
For what its worth, here’s what I think …
When I began pondering this, I looked for the earliest possible circumstance of doubt and/or fear. I went to the book of beginnings, the first book of the Bible, Genesis. Check out Genesis 2 - 15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Then this in verse 25 - Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.
Now take a brief look at Genesis 3 - 1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” 2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Pay close attention to this. Here is where she doubts. - 6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Here is where they sin. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness (Here is shame). So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. 8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man[a] and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid (Here is where they fear) from the Lord God among the trees.
At the risk of oversimplification, I see this cycle …
When we are tempted, WE DOUBT GOD. Then, when we feel shame, WE FEAR THE CONSEQUENCES.
Notice, they didn’t FEAR anything when they were talking to the devil himself. Of all the persons to fear, I would think the devil would be the guy to fear, right? Sadly, their DOUBT opened the door to sin, which then opened the door to FEAR - The Bible says they hid themselves. Interestingly, they didn’t hide themselves from the devil, they simply attempted to cover their shame. Fear was yet to come. They didn’t hide themselves until God showed up. Satan not only got them to doubt God, but to be afraid of Him as well. I’m not talking about reverent fear either. They were literally frightened of God. How sad when we know that God has not given us a spirit of fear. He wants us to live and dwell in His mercy and love. That’s all for now … DOUBT and then FEAR. At least that’s how I see it.
Is anybody else curious why the devil was there in the first place? That will have to be for another time.