Fear, Fear, Fear of the Lord

Incredible sights and sounds accompanied the giving of the Ten Commandments as the nation of Israel stood at the foot of Mount Sinai:

And all the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, lest we die.”
--Exodus 20:18-19

The people were afraid of God; scared!

That was fear, but not ‘Fear of the Lord.’

People loved Jesus. Yet, the Jewish leaders were often angry with Jesus. He did not fit their definition of Messiah. They wanted to get rid of Jesus. The longer he remained, the more threatening he became. Their anger turned to anxiety.

“And the scribes and the chief priests tried to lay hands on Him [Jesus] that very hour, and they feared the people; for they understood that He spoke this parable against them.”
--Luke 20:19

Not long after, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The chief priests and Pharisees convened a meeting:

“What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs. If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
--John 11:47-48

The Jewish leaders were afraid of Jesus; anxiety!

That was fear, but not ‘Fear of the Lord.’

Moses had been called by God to lead Israel out of Egyptian slavery. He had gone to investigate the bush that burned but did not burn up. He spoke with God and was sent as God's mouthpiece and God’s hand before Pharaoh. He parted the Red Sea, led Israel to Mount Sinai and received the Ten Commandments.

Then, almost as an impulse Moses made a child-like request of God: “Show me your glory!” God agreed. The next day God descended on Mount Sinai in a cloud. Having instructed Moses where to stand beforehand, God passed by Moses. He covered Moses with his hand but allowed him to see his back as he passed by. Moses saw the glory of God, but that was not all; God proclaimed:

“The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”
--Exodus 34:6-7

God did not simply reveal himself to Moses in a way that could be perceived by human sight and sound, he spoke. He revealed his divine character in words that reflected all that he had already shown about himself.

“And Moses made haste to bow low toward the earth and worship.”

That was fear; yes, 'Fear of the Lord.'

The fear of the Lord is not seen in those who cower in fear before God; it is not seen in those who are full of fearful anxiety or anger toward God. Moses stood before God in confidence, but bowed low in humility and worshiped.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
--Proverbs 9:10

--Mark Stinnett