I’m going through the book of Exodus for more than a week now. You know, the 10 plagues the Lord brought as judgment to the gods of Pharaoh and Egypt, the Israelites’ miraculous exodus from Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, the water from the rock, and a whole lot more.
Of course, one of the highlights there was the giving of the 10 Commandments by the Lord to Moses.
And surely, it’s more than just another scene straight from the movie. It’s the Lord Himself, inscribing the Laws in a carved stone before giving it to Moses.
However, beyond the miracles and wonders the Lord had shown in the book of Exodus, one thing I’m learning again is the fear of God.
Exodus 20:20 says, 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 fear of God. I used to think it’s God, ready to throw down bolts of lightning to an imperfect, stubborn person like me.
But as I grew in my relationship with God, I realized that to fear God isn’t negative in anyway. Instead, it’s a person’s response to a forgiving, gracious and loving God.
It’s actually submitting to Christ’s kingship or rulership, which says, Jesus, I yield my heart, mind and soul to you. I’m no longer calling the shots for my life. But I let you call the shots and direct the affairs of my life.
Here are some realizations I had about the fear of God:
-the fear of God doesn’t come by accident. It doesn’t just happen one day.
-the fear of God instead, comes when we get exposed to God’s Presence. When we experience Him daily. Experiencing Him in our daily devotion with Him. When we pray and seek Him in His word.
-It’s being conscious of God and desiring to please Him daily rather than satisfy our own selfish desires.
Fear of God. It’s more than just a feeling. It’s an everyday decision to let God be God over your life.