Are you afraid to fear God?
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Pr. 1:7). This verse is fairly well-known; so well-known, in fact, that I almost read right over it without stopping this morning. But something made me stop and go back. It took me a little while to figure out what it was - what connection was my mind trying to make here? Finally, I got it: 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 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." 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 people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was (Ex. 20:18-21). The phrase "fear of God" is a stumbling block for ...