Our tornado alarms went off today. Remembering what happened last year with the tornado we decided to go out into the front yard to watch, we went down in the basement this time. It was quite windy, but everything survived intact. Except for the old garden boards that are now laying all over the yard. Someone who knows how to use a saw should really take care of those, eh?
The thing I find amazing every time we have a big storm is how helpless simple weather can make me feel. Even not-particularly-bad weather makes me want to run around and try to protect a lot of things I can't really protect, like the house or the trees or the garden. Let's face it, there's no way I can stand out there and shield the elm tree and it'd be foolish to even try. It's one of those illusion-of-control things, the whole idea that we can build something or plant something and it'll stay solidly where we put it. And there are other forces at work far more powerful than the weather.
When it comes right down to it, though, I'm more afraid of the weather than a lot of other things. I have fear of it.
I've been reading a lot of the Bible the last few months. One thing I find recurring over and over again is the topic of "fear". There's good fear and bad fear, but a foundational element to a right view of God is fear.
A lot of people talk about Christianity often meaning an absence of fear. And it's true that people who have drawn close to God don't fear a lot of things other people do...because they actually fear God so much other things pale in comparison.
Astonishingly enough, that fear is the basis for great love.
A little healthy fear of the elements is a good thing - tornado chasing is a pretty dangerous hobby. But having even greater fear for other things - like God, for instance - is vitally important to life.
We tend to think of fear as a bad thing. What does "fear" really mean, though? Is it always negative to fear?
fear
Reverential awe, huh? That's considered fear? Doesn't seem like a negative thing. Depending on what you're holding in awe, of course.
Now Jacob referred to God as "the Fear of Isaac". Speaking to Laban,
"If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you." Gen 31:42 (NIV)
In every version but The Living Bible, Jacob directly names God this. In some inexplicable way, it is necessary to fear God in order to really love him the right way. The way that will let us enter his presence. I went through the concordance and counted 50 verses that talked about fearing God as a necessary and good thing. It's the basis for wisdom. It's the definition for a Godly person. It's the way to distinguish the good man from the wicked man. It's the old way to call someone "a Believer".
Job 1:9-10
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied.
10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
(NIV)
Ps 36:1
1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
(NIV)
Prov 2:1-6
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(NIV)
Eccl 8:13
13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
(NIV)
Eccl 12:13-14
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
(NIV)
2 Cor 5:11
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
(NIV)
Rev 14:6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-- to every nation, tribe, language and people.
7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."
(NIV)
Rev 19:5-7
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
(NIV)
If I fear tornados, which have little or no power over me...how much more is God deserving of my fear?
The thing I find amazing every time we have a big storm is how helpless simple weather can make me feel. Even not-particularly-bad weather makes me want to run around and try to protect a lot of things I can't really protect, like the house or the trees or the garden. Let's face it, there's no way I can stand out there and shield the elm tree and it'd be foolish to even try. It's one of those illusion-of-control things, the whole idea that we can build something or plant something and it'll stay solidly where we put it. And there are other forces at work far more powerful than the weather.
When it comes right down to it, though, I'm more afraid of the weather than a lot of other things. I have fear of it.
I've been reading a lot of the Bible the last few months. One thing I find recurring over and over again is the topic of "fear". There's good fear and bad fear, but a foundational element to a right view of God is fear.
A lot of people talk about Christianity often meaning an absence of fear. And it's true that people who have drawn close to God don't fear a lot of things other people do...because they actually fear God so much other things pale in comparison.
Astonishingly enough, that fear is the basis for great love.
A little healthy fear of the elements is a good thing - tornado chasing is a pretty dangerous hobby. But having even greater fear for other things - like God, for instance - is vitally important to life.
We tend to think of fear as a bad thing. What does "fear" really mean, though? Is it always negative to fear?
fear
–noun
| 1. | a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. |
| 2. | a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights. |
| 3. | concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety. |
| 4. | reverential awe, esp. toward God. |
| 5. | that which causes a feeling of being afraid; that of which a person is afraid: Cancer is a common fear. |
Reverential awe, huh? That's considered fear? Doesn't seem like a negative thing. Depending on what you're holding in awe, of course.
Now Jacob referred to God as "the Fear of Isaac". Speaking to Laban,
"If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you." Gen 31:42 (NIV)
In every version but The Living Bible, Jacob directly names God this. In some inexplicable way, it is necessary to fear God in order to really love him the right way. The way that will let us enter his presence. I went through the concordance and counted 50 verses that talked about fearing God as a necessary and good thing. It's the basis for wisdom. It's the definition for a Godly person. It's the way to distinguish the good man from the wicked man. It's the old way to call someone "a Believer".
Job 1:9-10
9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied.
10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
(NIV)
Ps 36:1
1 An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes.
(NIV)
Prov 2:1-6
1 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,
2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,
3 and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,
4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
(NIV)
Eccl 8:13
13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.
(NIV)
Eccl 12:13-14
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
(NIV)
2 Cor 5:11
11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
(NIV)
Rev 14:6-7
6 Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth-- to every nation, tribe, language and people.
7 He said in a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water."
(NIV)
Rev 19:5-7
5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying: "Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, both small and great!"
6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
(NIV)
If I fear tornados, which have little or no power over me...how much more is God deserving of my fear?
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