God knew that the people would be tempted to be afraid and then let that fear keep them from taking the Promised Land. They wanted to take the Promised Land. They knew God wanted them to take the Promised Land. But as it always does, fear threatened to keep them from doing what they wanted and receiving what God had promised. Knowing this, God tells them not to be afraid. God telling them not to be afraid is not empty encouragement. God doesn’t tell them not to be afraid because they are big and strong and they can do it. God doesn’t' tell them not to be afraid because the enemy isn't all that strong. No, God tells them not to be afraid because He is great, awesome, and He is with them. This is why they were not to be afraid. This is why we are not to be afraid. The power and presence of God frees me from fear. This passage gives us two reasons that the power and presence of God frees us from fear.