Be Afraid

If you’ve been around American Christianity for any length of time, you have heard lots of sermons. Many replicated, duplicated, and to be honest, very dry. We often come to church just hoping to hear some concept or verse, or idea that we haven’t before. This becomes difficult for speakers, writers, bloggers etc. because we see things through a narrow lens.

One of the great ways I have found fresh manna is to research the way the Jewish people looked at an idea, or theory, or something in the Bible. Often, it brings a refreshing look at the Bible, and I hope you try it.

I found one of those things that became fresh to me when I saw how Hebrews viewed it was Isaiah 8:12-13. Let’s look:

Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. YHWH Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.

In this verse God is warning Isaiah not to look, fear the same things the idolatrous people of Israel were fearing. But God says something that does not align with our “God is loving” philosophy. Not that he doesn’t love, and is not patient, kind, forgiving etc., but even Jesus said fear the one who can destroy your soul in Hell.

But back to the verse. God told Isaiah not to fear what others fear, and to only Fear YHWH Almighty. He said, “I am the one you should fear, I am the one you should dread.” But to us, we don’t want to be afraid and we even consider fear our enemy. But to understand what God was truly saying, you must understand how a Hebrew speaking and thinking Jew thought about fear.

To a Hebrew fear was not an emotion, but an orienting force. Hebrews considered fear to be worship. Why? Because what you fear, you orient around. Let me give you an example; as a parent if you fear your child’s safety on a date, you may stay up late, checking LIFE 360, text them…why? You are fearful. The fear oriented your actions. This is why God told Isaiah not to fear what other people feared, because they were hiding food, guarding where they went, etc because of fear and dread of another nation. But God says to fear him. Orient your life around him. Do you make your schedule around your time with Him? Do you spend quality time seeking his guidance so you don’t mess up? Do you make sure the Word is your guide written in your life guiding your walk? That is a sign of reverential fear.

God seeks those who fear him, because those who fear him, do his will

Many know the verse, “The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom” but few know the verse in that same book of Proverbs that says “The fear of YHWH is to hate evil.” Both are fearful worship….hating evil is wisdom, and walking in wisdom is the fear of YHWH.

What you fear, you worship….are you afraid of the right things?