Key Verse: “Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” (Deut 31:13 NIV)
In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C. S. Lewis has a dramatic scene where the children are talking with Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. Mr. Beaver mentions Aslan, and the children are intrigued. When Susan learns Aslan is a lion and not a man, she asks, “Is he–quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and no mistake” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Moses has something to say about fear and safety when he is instructing the people before his death. They will face opposition when they enter the land God will give them, and Moses instructs them in these words: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” And then Moses repeats the instruction to Joshua, who is to lead them, “Be strong and courageous!”
Immediately after this, however, Moses instructs the priests and elders that they are to call the people together every seven years and read them the book of the law so that “they may hear this Book of Instruction and learn to fear the LORD your God and carefully obey all the terms of these instructions.” They are to do this so that their children “who have not known these instructions will hear them and will learn to fear the LORD your God.” The people are to learn to fear the Lord and to teach their children to fear Him.
We are not to fear our enemies, but we are to fear the Lord.
There are two things we must not do when we think of the fear of the Lord: We must not empty it of all content by reducing it to respect or even awe. The Scriptures use the word “fear” with no qualification or apology. They teach us to fear the Lord. That, of course, includes respect and awe, but it is more than these things. Mrs. Beaver is right when she says, “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
However, Mr. Beaver is also right when he responds to Lucy’s question about Aslan being safe: “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” We must not try to put God in a cage. We must allow Him the freedom his character demands. He is not safe, but He is good. The second thing we must not do when we think of the fear of the Lord is that we must not see Him as only fearsome, but as the kindest Father who sent His Son to the cross for us. The fear of the Lord is only one aspect of our relationship with Him. Unlike many pagan gods, the Lord God reveals himself as a multifaceted Person. He is Father as well as Lord, Defender and Protector, Redeemer and Friend, Shepherd and Guide, Abba and Emmanuel, and so much more.
Are we living in the fear of God? Paul charges us, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1 ESV).
Prayer: Most Holy Lord, help me to live with a healthy biblical fear of You. As I am warmed by your love, let me be awed by your holy majesty. Lord, let me tremble in your presence and bow with my face to the ground. You are awe-inspiring in your holiness.
Author: Lindsay Hislop was raised in southern Scotland and southern Ontario and now lives in the southern United States. He worked in the engineering field for 15 years (mostly in Canada) before pursuing an academic career. He has taught for over thirty years at Columbia International University. He also serves as an elder in his church, where he teaches and preaches regularly. He is married to a wonderful wife Pam and has two terrific children, Holly, who lives in Canada, and Doug, who lives in Columbia. His four grandchildren, Isaac, Madeline, Lindsay, and Dolan, are also pretty special. He likes doing carpentry and odd jobs around the house.
