Deuteronomy 7:18
you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just tell us to remember what God did to Egypt, but emphasizes how we should remember: "well remember," or as some translations say, "remembering remember." This isn't just a passive recollection, but an active, thoughtful engagement with God's past faithfulness, using it as a powerful antidote to present fear.
God is instructing the Israelites to utterly destroy the nations in the land He is giving them, not out of cruelty, but to prevent them from becoming a snare and leading Israel into idolatry. As they prepare to face these formidable enemies, God reminds them that they are not to be afraid, but to recall the incredible power He displayed in delivering them from Egypt. This memory of past faithfulness is meant to fuel their courage and confidence as they step into their promised land.
Facing overwhelming odds can paralyze us. But what if the key to courage isn't ignoring fear, but actively remembering God's power?
The command 'you shall not be afraid' isn't a suggestion; it's a directive rooted in reality. The Israelites were facing formidable enemies in Canaan, peoples who were stronger and more numerous than them. It would be natural to feel fear.
But God immediately counters this fear with a powerful antidote: 'remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.' This isn't just a casual recall of history. It’s a call to actively remember God's past acts of salvation.
Think about the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the utter defeat of Pharaoh's mighty army. These weren't small miracles; they were earth-shattering demonstrations of God's sovereignty and power. By remembering these events, the Israelites were to be reminded that the same God who crushed Egypt was with them. Their current fear, however significant, was dwartfed by God's proven ability to overcome any obstacle.
Did God only work miracles in the ancient past? Or is His power a constant, reliable force available to us today?
The linkage between what God did in Egypt and what He would do in Canaan is crucial. God wasn't saying, 'Remember how strong I was,' but rather, 'Remember how strong I am.'
Pharaoh and the Egyptians represented the ultimate oppressive power Israel had faced. Their total destruction was a testament to God's unwavering might and His commitment to His people's freedom. When God then instructs Israel not to fear the Canaanites, He’s asserting that His power hasn't diminished.
This serves as a profound encouragement: the God who delivered a nation of slaves from the most powerful empire of their day is the same God who stands with His people facing any spiritual or earthly threat. His character and power are unchanging. The victories He grants are not isolated incidents but flows from an eternal, inexhaustible supply of strength.
Understand the original words
yare · Hebrew Verb
The feeling of dread or terror; in a biblical context, often contrasted with the command to trust in God's power.
zakar · Hebrew Verb
The practice of calling to mind God's past redemptive acts to bolster present faith and obedience.
This passage directly echoes the sentiment, with Moses telling the Israelites 'Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD that he will show you today.' It highlights remembering God's past deliverance as the antidote to present fear.
Joshua 24:12This verse is a direct fulfillment of the promise in Deuteronomy, with Joshua recounting how the Lord sent hornets ahead of them to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It shows God acting powerfully, just as He did in Egypt, to remove those feared by His people.
Psalm 105:5This psalm is a powerful reminder to 'Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;' specifically referencing the Exodus. It emphasizes the importance of recalling God's mighty deeds to strengthen faith.
Isaiah 41:10This prophetic promise offers a timeless encouragement: 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God.' It assures that God's presence and strength are the ultimate reason believers don't need to fear, just as His past actions guaranteed victory for Israel.
1 Corinthians 10:13This passage connects the ancient experiences to modern struggles, stating 'There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' It encourages believers to remember God's faithfulness in past 'temptations' (trials), just as Israel was to remember Egypt.
gillDeuteronomy 7:18: "Thou shalt not be afraid of them: but shalt well remember what the LORD thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;"
Thou shalt not be afraid of them,.... Neither on account of their number, nor their strength: but shall well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt; a people more numerous and potent than the Canaanites, among whom the Lord wrought such wonderful things by his power, which obliged them to let Israel go; and his power was now the s…
calvinDeuteronomy 7:16-26: "And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that will be a snare unto thee."
The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out; so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.
Probationum magnarum quas videru…
The verse doesn't just tell us to remember what God did to Egypt, but emphasizes how we should remember: "well remember," or as some translations say, "remembering remember." This isn't just a passive recollection, but an active, thoughtful engagement with God's past faithfulness, using it as a powerful antidote to present fear.
God is instructing the Israelites to utterly destroy the nations in the land He is giving them, not out of cruelty, but to prevent them from becoming a snare and leading Israel into idolatry. As they prepare to face these formidable enemies, God reminds them that they are not to be afraid, but to recall the incredible power He displayed in delivering them from Egypt. This memory of past faithfulness is meant to fuel their courage and confidence as they step into their promised land.
God is instructing the Israelites to utterly destroy the nations in the land He is giving them, not out of cruelty, but to prevent them from becoming a snare and leading Israel into idolatry. As they prepare to face these formidable enemies, God reminds them that they are not to be afraid, but to recall the incredible power He displayed in delivering them from Egypt. This memory of past faithfulness is meant to fuel their courage and confidence as they step into their promised land.
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"you shall not be afraid of them but you shall remember what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt," — The verse doesn't just tell us to remember what God did to Egypt, but emphasizes how we should remember: "well remember," or as some translations say, "remembering remember." This isn't just a pa…
