The word fear is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “Anxious anticipation of danger, pain, etc.”. The word fear appears in the Bible approximately 411 times. The first time is in Genesis 9:2, and is when God makes all things on the earth fear man. The last time in the Bible the word fear is used is in Revelation 19:5 and states: “And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great.”, what a powerful verse.
The first time fear is mentioned in the Bible, it is God giving man power on this earth to serve Him and His purpose. The last time the word is mentioned it shows the power of God, and those that fear Him and His power and majesty will be around His throne for eternity in heaven praising Him.
I am writing this post as a continuation of my other posts this month. This topic has been on my mind much this month. What does it mean to fear God, and do we as individuals and as the church fear God, or man?
If you research all of the times the word fear is used in the Bible, a large number of the time it is used to show we should not fear man, but should fear God and put our trust and faith in Him. Why is this, it would seem as much as the Bible details we should fear God and not mankind, we as humans continue to fear things on this earth over God.
There are many examples of this, but one great example is Abraham. In Genesis chapter 12, we see Abraham and Sarah tell a lie, while in Egypt, because they feared what would happen if the King of Egypt knew the truth. They did this instead of trusting God to protect them.
We see situations in chapter 13 and 14 where Abraham takes actions based on emotions. Then in Genesis 15:1, we see the second time fear is actually mentioned in the Bible, and it states: “After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
All of these things were after Abraham was given a promise by God. What does Abraham do in the next couple verses, complain that he has not been given an heir. Is that not like us, God tells Abraham in person to trust him for the reward, and Abraham complains because he doesn’t have it and there are no signs of the promise.
God then gives Abraham the promise again of land and a great nation. In chapter 16 we see Abraham do the human thing and since he did not have faith in God, he takes the matter into his own hands at his wife’s suggestion and Sarah’s servant is taken as a wife and becomes pregnant with a son for Abraham. Then we see skipping ahead to chapter 20, Abraham and Sarah travel to Gerar and because they fear the king again, more than God, they lie the same lie to the king in Gerar, they did in Egypt.
The reason Abraham gives in verse 11 for the lie, when they are discovered by the king, who God punishes and his people, is interesting: “And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.” Because the king and people of Gerar did not fear God, was the reason Abraham did not trust God to take care of him and Sarah and fulfill the covenant that God made with Abraham.
This situation had occurred a couple times by this point. It would seem Abraham was lacking in the fear of God and feared what men would do to him more. It would at least appear Abraham feared what the king of Gerar would do to him, over what God had promised him.
We know the ending and Abraham and Sarah do have a child, Isaac. Abraham is tested again by God in chapter 22, in what most people would call the ultimate test of faith in God, and Abraham succeeds in trusting God and demonstrated he feared God more than human emotions or actions, when he was willing to sacrifice his only son, he waited for so long to have. We know the rest of the story, that God fulfilled His promise to Abraham.
In many cases fear and respect go hand in hand. If you have good parents you will respect them, but also fear them, because you know disobedience will be punished in some way. In society, how do we keep law and order, and ensure the safety of our people. By fear and respect of people in authority and the punishment that follows failure to follow the laws. These are both principles established in the Bible.
Our God is the creator of the universe, He is all powerful. To be one of His servants and children, we must respect His laws and authority, and fear His punishment for failing Him. We are all born sinners worthy of death and Hell. That is the punishment for our failure as mankind.
But our God has loved us, His creation, even though we fail Him constantly, as Abraham did. Just as He still blessed Abraham and showed His love toward him. God also loves us and showed His love toward us, by sending His only Son to this earth, to die as a sacrifice for our sins. Christ defeated the grave on the third day, and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father, making intercession for us sinners.
Just as Abraham was blessed for his faith and fear of the Lord God, so can you. We all have many choices in our life to make, but none as important as trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then following our Lord in the fear of God and his laws.
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Cor 7:1)
In Christ,
The Sword of the Spirit 