Hinds Feet on High Places: Chapter 2 Summary and Thoughts
This is the second post in a series of posts on the book Hinds Feet on High Places, by Hannah Hurnard.
Chapter 2 Summary:
The beginning of chapter 2 finds Much-Afraid awakening with excitement to prepare for her journey with the Great Shepherd. She watched and waited but the Great Shepherd did not come in the morning, and then Much-Afraid was taken hostage in her own house by an invasion of her relatives. We learn that they waited to come when she would be alone because the Sheperd would be far away, but they also knew that they could not forcibly take her in daylight because there were too many workers of the Sheperd that would come to her aid. Much-Afraid cowered as they surrounded her and went on and on trying to convince her that marrying Craven Fear would be the best thing for her. Then they went silent at one point as they heard the voice of the Shepherd singing as he passed by her cottage. Much-Afraid realized that this was the song he promised to give her and she was supposed to be ready to leave that instant, but instead she was cowering in fear because of her relatives. She didn’t even think to call out to him until it was too late and then her cousins hands half-choked her to the point that she fainted.
When she awoke, she heard the voice of her neighbour Mrs. Valiant and called to her from her window to help. Mrs. Valiant came immediately and she threatened all of them that she would call the Chief Shepherd if they were not gone in three seconds. They fled instantly and Mrs. Valiant came in to hear Much-Afraid’s story and make her some tea. By the time Much-Afraid had re-gained her composure it was too dark to go find the Shepherd, so she decided to wait until morning. Mrs Valiant instructed her to get some sleep and set a bell by her bedside instructing her to ring it if she needs help again and that the whole Valiant family would come at once.
Chapter 2 Thoughts:
In this chapter, Much-Afraid’s relatives use any means they can to convince her to come join them, knowing that if they can just get her to old Lord Fearing’s Mansion that then she would be in their power. They use deception, telling her they had come with the kindest of intentions, guilt, telling her that she had cut herself off from them from too long, and that by marrying Craven Fear she could be the one to change him. Then finally they show their true colours and gag her to the point of her fainting when they hear the Shepherd walk by.
I think it’s important to note, that her relatives, that she lives in fear of, fear nothing themselves except the Great Shepherd. We see this when Craven Fear ran from the Shepherd in chapter one, and we see it in this moment when they go silent hearing the Shepherd’s voice, then also as they tumbled over each other trying to get away as quickly as possible when Mrs. Valiant threatened to call the Shepherd.
Although there can be some comparisons made to our physical families and their impact on you, this fact of them fearing nothing but the Chief Shepherd shows us that they are meant to symbolize the spiritual warfare we fight when trying to follow Christ. And there is two pieces to this I want to point out; the first being our own thoughts. Our own fears, doubts, self-criticism and self-hate prevent us from spiritual healing and freedom more than anything else.
The second is the family/experiential piece to this. As Mrs. Valiant almost told Much-Afraid that she should not have let fear over take her she thought to herself…
“What is the use of saying it? She can’t act upon it, poor thing; she is one of them herself and has got Fearing in the blood, and when the enemy is within you it’s a poor prospect. I think no one but the Shepherd himself can really help her”Pg.16
If she could be told to not fear, and then cast out her fear in her own power she would have done that by now after several years in the Shepherd’s service, but it takes more that that to deal with the generational sins passed down through our genes, or created by our experiences growing up. Only the Great Shepherd could deal with that, and only once Much-Afraid is willing to ask him to deal with it and to take the steps he leads her into so that she can experience what she needs to in that process.
Let us not forget, it is perfect love that casts out fear. What was created in the experience of fear can only be dealt with by the equal experience of Love.
We also see an example of the power of Christian community in Mrs. Valiant. What a beautiful picture of what she was able to accomplish with a heart full of faith and a few words in comparison to Much-Afraid’s ability in that moment. This why we need community. We need to be willing to call out for help, to share the fears or shame holding us back, so that our brothers and sisters can help lead us back to the Great Shepherd. Again and again and again.
Here are a few questions to pray through in response to reading chapter two:
Take some time to pray and ask Jesus if there is anything generational in your family that needs to prayed through/dealt with. If you are discovering something new or feel like you are ready to deal with somethings you’ve been avoiding, find a trusted and safe person to share that with and seek God’s direction for the next steps.
Try to think of one or two reoccurring situations that trigger fear in you. Do you find yourself turning to Jesus and seeking his help in those times? Do you bring the fear, shame or doubt to him to see how it stands up in the light of his truth? Take note what situation you want to be purposeful in bringing to Jesus next time it comes up and how you would like to do it.
