How to Fear God
When the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai to give His commandments, "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled. Then Moses led the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.(Exodus 19:16–18).
When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” (Exodus 20:18–19)
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.” (Exodus 20:20).
Why did God come down in such a way to give His commandments to the Israelites—making the whole mountain tremble, fire and smoke rise up, and speaking with loud thunder and trumpet blasts? It was so that they would not sin out of fear. Yet shortly afterward, they made a golden calf and began to worship it (Exodus 32). Worshiping any other god is the ultimate curse and the gravest sin.
Taught to Fear God
God commanded Moses:
“Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice." (Deuteronomy 4:10–12).
God didn't just instruct the Israelites to fear Him; He also commanded them to pass on this instruction to their children. However, many people fail to follow this guidance and end up worshipping other gods instead. As a result, the call to fear God was desperately missing. Today, even those who identify as Christians often don't have a sense of fear for the Lord or teach their children to do so.
Why Should We Fear God?
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good? To the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. (Deuteronomy 10:12–18).
It was precisely because the Lord Himself declared that He is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the Almighty, that they were commanded to fear Him. Despite this, throughout history, the Israelites did not fear God and often rebelled against Him. Even today, many Israelis do not fear God; they engage in various sinful behaviors and transgressions. Just like their ancient counterparts, many Christians today lack a genuine reverence for the Lord. Instead of seeking His will, they place themselves in His position, prioritizing their own desires. While they appear to worship God, they do not seek His will but rather follow their own preferences. They value human opinion over God's will. As a result, following God's will becomes not only impossible but also a burden for them. Does your life still revolve around this reality?
The Heart of Wisdom
It is written: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 111:10).
Yet many people seek worldly wisdom more than God’s wisdom. Paul reminds us that the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight: For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:19‑21).
Human wisdom is needed, but the wisdom of God is more important. Today's believers desire human wisdom rather than wisdom given by God, and so He said He will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate (1 Corinthians 1:19).
earned secular individuals even claim that there is no God (Psalm 14:1). Such people engage in corrupt and decaying behavior. For them, the will of God becomes a laughing stock. Do you realize that you are following such people? From now on, choose to fear the Lord. Encourage yourself to do so. If you fear God, not only is it very easy to carry out His will, but it also brings joy and pride. It is also the essence of all blessings.
If You Do Not Fear God
The Scripture warns that if you do not fear the Lord, you will be seeking death during the Tribulation Period, as seen in this passage:
"Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide usa]"> from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!" (Revelation 6:15–16).
During times of great tribulation, people of this world will see the heavens with their own eyes. At that time, starting from worldly leaders, generals, and wealthy men down to the poor and common people, all will witness the wrath of God. When that time comes, their extreme fear will lead them to pray for rocks and mountains to fall upon them. Thus, they will desperately seek death.
Let me warn you now not to be among those people. Therefore, fear the eternal God.
Characteristics of Fearing God
It is not enough simply to say that one fears the Lord with words; true fear must be reflected in a person's actions and lifestyle. Scripture says, "He who fears the Lord shuns evil" (Proverbs 16:6). Therefore, if you continue to commit sinful acts, it shows that you have not yet truly feared God. When Joseph was tempted by his master’s wife to sleep with her, he responded, “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).
If you genuinely fear God, you will be willing and eager to follow His will.
