Exodus 20:18-21 (NKJV) 18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.
God’s really working on me in His holiness and what the fear of the Lord means, and in the process, I’ve gotten really ticked at how the enemy has taken everything that God has created – remember that God created everything for good – and twisted it into some sort of shackle to restrain, control, and manipulate mankind with.
There have been times during my children’s lives that they have expressed a fear of something, be it a roller coaster or a bully or a new situation, and I almost always respond with the same thing. “Fear God and nothing else.” I don’t mean that as a trite quip just to satisfy giving them some sort of response, I want that repetitive statement to sink deep into the core of who they are and resonate within their spirit. I want it to sink deep into the core of who I am and resonate within my spirit too! It’s just as much for me as it is for them. I struggle with fear for them as much as any parent who loves their children.
Here were the Israelites who feared that God would kill them right after they had seen all the miracles God performed to free them from their bondage and slavery. He chose them. He saved them. Yet, they feared He would kill them because they witnessed his amazing power, majesty and glory on the mountain. He gave clear instruction on what was going to happen and how to prepare and respond to it (see Exodus 19), yet they still walked in fear. They walked the wrong kind of fear of the Lord, the kind of fear that cripples and paralyzes us in our journey with and toward God. Holy Fear is a fear of respect and humility – knowing that God can AND has every right to zap me off the face of the earth. I deserve nothing that He affords me. That is Holy fear. Holy fear is NOT being afraid to enter into his presence or approach his throne if you are a believer (Eph 3:12, Heb 4:6, 1 John 5:14).
They were living a picture of Psalms 23. Verse 6 says “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Interesting word in that verse is the Hebrew word hesed which means “a love or affection that is steadfast based on a prior relationship.”
For Israel, it was based on the promise and relationship God made with Abraham, Issac and Jacob. For you and me it’s based on the prior relationship God the Father has with God the Son (Jesus). His redemptive power through my submission to His lordship is the basis of God’s hesed in my life.
Fear God… nothing else.
Running After Papa…