Day 13

“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning’. The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” — Exodus 20:20

God gave the moral law to Moses, not only to expose the needs of the Israelite people, but to diagnose their condition in order that He may lead them to a remedy. When He did this, it was on Mount Sinai, and in the context of great fear and drama to His people. They were instructed to keep clear away from the foot of the mountain, and as they looked upwards, there was thunder and lightning, followed by a dense cloud that was lowering towards them. The mountain was covered in smoke and billowed like a furnace.

The Bible tells us God then descended to the top of the mountain in raging fire to the accompaniment of a very loud trumpet blast which grew louder and louder. The whole mountain trembled violently, and standing at a distance, the Israelites were shaken with fear. Then God spoke out of the fire. It wasn’t a display that would thrill and excite the people, but rather one that evoked fear and danger. Why did God choose to reveal Himself in this way?

It isn’t until we are awed by God and overwhelmed by Him, that the fear of God is created in us. God means for us to see Him in His Sovereignty, His Power and His Holiness. We cannot be passive, indifferent or disrespectful when God speaks. Unless we fear God, we will never really come to know Him, and it is God’s desire that we come to know Him in His righteousness. Consider what He is thinking when we secretly abscond with something that isn’t ours, or when we engage in sexual intimacy outside of marriage, or when we slander a friend to make ourselves appear better. It grieves God. It is outright sin in His eyes and sin demands justice.

Above all else, God is a God of justice and for this reason, He sent His Son, first and foremost, to be the propitiation for our sin, in order that His justice may be satisfied, and secondly, out of His love for us, as a ransom for our sin. The wage of sin is death. Scripture is unambiguous about that and unless we fear God, we live a precarious life, which, in the end, will stand before Him on judgement day. With very good reason, King Solomon writes, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7).

Prayer: Dear Lord, you created the entire universe and all life within it, including me. not to fear my maker would be arrogant and foolish, for you hold every life in your hands. i am so grateful, lord, that you taught my eyes to see and ears to hear how absolutely sovereign you are!

To reflect upon: Am I confused by the fact that while loving God, I am to fear Him at the same time? How do I reconcile the two and apply them in my life?