Be Afraid With Us....Or Not

“Birds of a feather flock together,” so goes the saying that people who are alike hang out together. I have recently seen more flocks of crows.

Crows learn to fear. Research has revealed when a person threatens a crow, harms a crow, or even picks up a dead crow, the crow that sees it will associate that person with harm or death. The crow will not only stay away from the person, but also warn other crows to stay away from the offender. They will squawk a fearful warning for others to stay away. Furthermore, they do not forget to fear. The fear of the potential deadly situation stays with them. So, the more life experience crows have, the more fear they have. And they forget about the beauty around them.

I have recently seen more flocks of crows, birds of a feather flocking together, the fearful gathering and squawking, “Warning, warning, HAVE FEAR!” Crows are alerting of the doom that may befall others if they do not conform, if they do not stay away from the harm. They scream, “BE AFRAID WITH US!”

But…

“His eyes are on the sparrow and He watches over me.”

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:6-7

The most given command in the Bible is “Do not be a crow (metaphorically speaking).” Truly, the most given command in the Bible is “Do not be afraid.” And the most common pairing in the Bible with the command, “Do not be afraid,” are variations of God saying, “I am with you.”

“Don’t be afraid, I am with you.”

“Don’t be afraid, I am with you.”

“Don’t be afraid, I am with you.”

Jesus encouraged us to be more like sparrows, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34

Sparrows are not afraid because they trust their Creator. Their lives are in their Creator’s hand and they do what they can to live the life the Creator has for them. They do stay away from potential harm, not out of fear or because the crows are squawking, but because it is wise. Contrary to crows, the more life experiences a sparrow has, the more they are at peace with the life God has for them. When they gather, they sing.

So, are you a crow or a sparrow?

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10