What does it mean to Fear God? What is the Difference between "Awe-full" and "Awful"?


Most people ask the question what does it mean to "fear the Lord". I thought God loved us why should we fear him?  It often stems from reading the verse, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Proverbs 9:10 So let's unpack what that means. 

The word fear in the bible could easily be translated "awe".  When the angels showed up to people in the bible they usually calmed them down by saying "fear not".  The angels showed the glory of the Lord which is what we might say was "awe-ful" or left people full of awe.  

We normally use the word "aweful" in a negative sense, but it originally meant to be "full of awe" or "inspiring". Read online as to how the word has morphed into a negative, dreadful word.  A better word is "awesome".  If it was that awesome for the disciples to experience the holiness and glory of the Lord, how much more to be in God's presence.

Fear is also respect.  We often fear so many things in this life in an unhealthy way.  We fear outcomes that rarely happen, which creates lots of anxiety and stress.  You may be experiencing a lot of this during the Corona Virus epidemic.  But there is also a healthy fear of this virus which results in taking the proper precautions such as washing hands and social distancing. The bible helps us to see the difference between healthy fear and unhealthy fear.  

The bible says in Matthew 10:28, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." This healthy fear is often lost on society.  But we can't use this to be manipulating to people.  I.e. You better fear God or you will go to hell, as has often been used in church history.  

So we fear God out of awe and respect.  But there are other places in the bible that put fear of God in proper perspective and how God doesn't want us to "fear" in another sense.  For instance the verse, "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you,Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

My personal favorite, "Perfect love casts out all fear."  1 John 4:18 Or, "I did not give you a spirit of fear/timidity but one of power, love and self control." (this is a great verse for anxiety too!) 2 Timothy 1:7

So though we fear God, we know that He loves us unconditionally. We use this perfect, unconditional love that he showed us by sending His Son to cast out awful, dreadful fear, and intimidating fear.  I love this verse on how much God loves us! 

38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Do not be full of fear friends, cast your anxieties and cares on God for He cares for you!  

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