왜 그렇게 무서워하나 Why Are You So Afraid?

왜 그렇게 무서워하나 Why Are You So Afraid? 6.25전쟁을 북한에서 만나고 남한으로 내려온 남선은 비행기 소리만 나면 두려움으로 놀란다. 비행기 소리가 나면 폭탄이 떨어지고 집들이 불에 타는 것을 계속 경험하였기에 비행기 소리는 그런 두려움을 일으켰다. 동시에 그는 부엌이나 방 바닥을 뚫고 땅굴 파기로 이름난 북한 사람이 올라올지도 모른다는 두려움도 가진다. 그는 자유롭고 안전한 한국의 품에 안기어 보호받고 있지만 그 두려움이 한동안 계속되다가 한국이 정말 안전하다는 것을 몸으로 체험한 뒤에야 비행기 소리에도 놀라거나 두려워하지 않고 마음에 평안을 가졌다. 이스라엘은 하나님의 택함 받은 백성이라도 역사에 많은.두려운 일을 만났다. 솔로몬 이후 나라는 남북으로 나누어지고 외적의 많은 침략과 약탈을 당하다가 북 왕국 이스라엘은 결국 앗수르에 멸망하여 나라는 사라졌다. 하나님의 백성이라는 그들의 신분을 포기하면서 일어난 일이었다. 남 왕국 유다도 전쟁과 재난 같은 많은 두려운 일을 겪다가 결국 바벨론의 침공으로 예루살렘 성은 무너지고 성전은 불에 타고 파괴되며 백성은 포로로 끌려가 고향을 잃고 사방으로 흩어갔다. 성전이 파괴된 마당에 어디에 가도 안전이나 안식이 없고 불안과 두려움이 그들을 둘러싸고 어떤 희망이 보이지 않는다. 하나님의 백성에게 왜 이런 일이 일어나나? 자기가 누구인가를 잊은 자들에게 하나님이 허락한 일이다. 이런 형편에 하나님의 선지자 이사야는 그들을 위로하며 43장에서 두려워하지 말라 한다. 하나님은 그들이 잊은 신분을 기억시킨다. 하나님이 그들을 창조하고 지었고 구원하고 이름 불렀기에 “너는 내 것”이라 하신다. 그들이 지난 날 홍해 같은 물을 마른 땅으로 통과하고 나라가 불에 타는 어려움을 통과하게 하신 것을 기억시킨다. 그들을 보배롭고 존귀하게 여기기에 그들을 위하여 애굽과 구스, 스바를 무릎 꿇게 하고 이들을 구원하셨다. 그들이 동서남북 어디로 흩어져 있든지 그들을 인도하여 본토에 돌아오게 하리라 하신다. 그 근거는 그들은 하나님이 택하고 지으신 백성이요 그들은 하나님의 것이기 때문이다. 그들이 평화롭게 살 때는 관심을 기울이지 않고 있다가 그들이 심한 고난으로 두려움에 눌려 부르짖을 때 하나님의 마음에는 그들을 향한 긍휼과 사랑이 끓어 올라 그들을 구원하신다. 보통 때는 나타나지 않던 사랑이 불안과 두려움, 고난에 시달리는 그들을 향하여 불타게 일어나 그들을 돕고 구원하신다. 두려워 말라,무서워 말라는 말씀을 반복하시고 하나님은 그가 말씀하신 것을 이루시며 그들에게 새로운 나라와 삶을 허락하셨다 북에서 남으로 내려온 자를 나라가 책임지고 보호하며 안전하게 살도록 하는데 하물며 하늘과 땅의 모든 권세를 가지신 하나님께서 자기 사람을 돌보신다면 우리가 무엇을 두려워하며 걱정할 것이 있겠나? 북에서 남으로만 아니라 한국에서 미국으로 세계 어디에 가든지, 또 어디서나 무슨 질병이나 우환을 만나도 염려와 두려움 없이 살아온 것은 우리가 하나님의 것이요 하나님은 신실하심을 믿은 덕분이기에 그에게 감사하고 찬양한다. Why Are You So Afraid? When Nam-seon, who had experienced the Korean War of June 25 while living in North Korea, came down to South Korea, he would be startled with fear whenever he heard the sound of an airplane. He had repeatedly experienced bombs falling and houses being consumed by fire whenever airplanes flew overhead. The sound of an airplane had therefore become a source of terror. At the same time, he feared that North Koreans, known for digging underground tunnels, might emerge through the floor of his kitchen or room. Although he had found refuge in the free and safe embrace of South Korea and was being protected there, his fears continued for some time. Only after he had personally experienced that South Korea was truly safe did he find peace of mind, no longer startled or frightened by the sound of airplanes. Even though Israel was God's chosen people, they encountered many frightening events throughout their history. After Solomon's reign, the nation was divided into the northern and southern kingdoms. Both suffered numerous invasions and acts of plunder by foreign powers. Eventually, the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by Assyria and disappeared as a nation. This happened as the people abandoned their identity as God's people. The southern kingdom of Judah also endured many frightening experiences, including wars and disasters. Eventually, the Babylonians invaded, the walls of Jerusalem were torn down, and the temple was burned and destroyed. The people were taken into captivity, lost their homeland, and were scattered in every direction. With the temple destroyed, they could find neither safety nor rest wherever they went. Anxiety and fear surrounded them, and they could see no hope for the future. Why had such things happened to God's people? These were events God allowed to happen to those who had forgotten who they were. In these circumstances, Isaiah, God's prophet, comforted the people and declared in chapter 43, "Do not fear." God reminded them of the identity they had forgotten. Because He had created them, formed them, redeemed them, and called them by name, He declared, "You are mine." He reminded them of how He had led them through waters like the Red Sea on dry ground and brought them through terrible trials, including the destruction of their nation. Because they were precious and honored in His sight, He had given Egypt, Cush, and Seba in exchange for them and delivered them. He promised that wherever they had been scattered—to the east, west, north, or south—He would gather them and bring them back to their homeland. The foundation of this promise was that they were the people God had chosen and formed; they belonged to Him. When they lived in peace, they often paid little attention to God. But when they were overwhelmed by severe suffering and cried out in fear, His heart overflowed with compassion and love for them, and He delivered them. A love that had not been apparent in ordinary times burned brightly toward those tormented by anxiety, fear, and hardship, moving Him to help and save them. Again and again, He told them not to fear or be afraid. God fulfilled what He had promised and granted them a new nation and a new life. If a nation takes responsibility for protecting people who have fled from North Korea to South Korea and ensures that they can live in safety, how much more can we trust God, who possesses all authority in heaven and on earth, to care for His own people? What, then, do we have to fear or worry about? Whether we have traveled from North Korea to South Korea, from Korea to America, or to any other place in the world, we can live without anxiety and fear. Even when we encounter illness, adversity, or other troubles wherever we may be, we can remain confident because we belong to God and believe in His faithfulness. For this, we give thanks and praise to Him.