Fear of the LORD

 Fear of the LORD, a Study on Fear from Genesis 42

There are many things that scare us. Human beings have all varieties of fears. Some are quite silly.

As a kid, I watched Arachnophobia, the movie about the fear of spiders. Still makes me jump thinking about them sneaking onto me when I am sleeping or dropping onto my hand when I turn out the light.

Maybe you have acrophobia, the fear of heights. Someone might say they don’t mind the heights, it’s the falling and hitting the ground that scares them.

Others it’s aerophobia, aquaphobia, or astraphobia, but flying, water, and storms don’t sum up everyone’s fears.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WERE AFRAID OF AS A KID?

In Genesis 42, we dive into the middle of the epic of Joseph. So far, Joseph has been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, and his father Jacob believes him dead because his sons deceived him. While Judah shipwrecked his life, Joseph was purchased by a wealthy Egyptian, the captain of the guards. He endured slavery and then wrongful accusation and imprisonment. Then, Joseph was brought out of prison into the very presence of Pharaoh, where he interpreted dreams and planned how to save Egypt from disaster. Pharaoh promoted Joseph to second-in-command, and Joseph helped Egypt prepare for the famine by storing up grain during the years of great harvests. Now, the famine has come, and today the brothers will come to Joseph. We will see the family’s many fears.

Take a few minutes and read Genesis 42

“But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brothers, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him,” (Genesis 42:4).

Numerous times in Genesis 42, we can detect a variety of fears being surfaced in the minds of Jacob, Reuben, and Joseph’s other brothers.

From Jacob’s perspective, he sends his sons in desperation to purchase grain, but he is too afraid to trust them with Benjamin. When they return, his fear increases and he believes Simeon is as good as dead and that he might end his life in despair if something were to happen to Benjamin, too.

From the brothers’ perspectives, they go to Egypt at their father’s request to purchase grain, but they are treated roughly by the governor, accused of being spies, incarcerated for three days, questioned at length, and then nine of them are released while Simeon remains in custody. As they made their way back to Jacob, one discovers that the money they brought found its way back into his sack and their fear reaches a fever pitch. The Egyptians may think the men cheated them and stole the grain. Reuben finally begs Jacob to allow him to return to Egypt with Benjamin, thereby freeing Simeon, but Jacob refuses. Both men show they were terribly afraid.

From the family’s perspective, fear dominates their motives. In fact, we can discern seven different fears in this chapter. We will consider each fear.

FEAR OF DYING: “Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die,” (Genesis 42:2).

Jacob shows us the fear of dying. The famine has Jacob scared that if they don’t find food, they will starve.

Are you afraid to die? Do you worry how or when death will come? Maybe disease, maybe a car accident, maybe something completely unforeseen? Do you fear death?

FEAR FOR LOVED ONES: “But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him,” (Genesis 42:4).

Jacob’s reluctance to send Benjamin shows that he is more afraid of unique harm coming to Benjamin that he is of starving. So, he sends all but Benjamin on the mission to find food.

Do the thoughts of some harm befalling a loved one keep you up at night? Do you think of numerous ways they could get hurt, and the thoughts paralyze you?

 

FEAR OF EXPOSURE: “Then they said to one another, ‘In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.’ And Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood,’” (Genesis 42:21-22).

While in custody for three days, the brothers spoke about their old sins: selling Joseph into slavery. Was their current plight similar to what Joseph had experienced?

While in prison, they came to think their past sins were catching up to them.

Their distress, and their connecting current problems to previous sins, shows that these brothers lived with guilt and the fear that their past sins would be found out.

Is there some secret you keep that you fear will come to light? Do you feel like a phony and worry that everyone will soon know? Do you fear being found out?

FEAR OF CALAMITY: “He said to his brothers, ‘My money has been put back; here it is in the mouth of my sack!’ At this their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, ‘What is this that God has done to us?’” (Genesis 42:28).

When the brothers found their money in their grain sacks, their fears erupted.

Perhaps they would become hunted men. Perhaps the Egyptians would believe they had cheated them and stolen the grain.

Not once did they think God, or God through Joseph, had shown them a kindness.

Are you afraid of circumstances? Is everything about to fall apart? Are you terrified by things that occur because you know they spell catastrophe for you?

FEAR OF DESPAIR: “And when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. … Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. … If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol,” (Genesis 42:35-38).

When Jacob learns of the bizarre turn of events in Egypt he is afraid, but not of general calamity, and not of his previous sins being found out.

He is afraid that if harm comes to Benjamin his years left will be filled with despair.

Does tomorrow seem bleak? Do you believe the best days are long gone? Do you fear living out your days in misery and hopelessness?

FEAR OF FAILURE: “Then Reuben said to his father, ‘Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you,’” (Genesis 42:37).

Reuben had made a terrible mistake years ago. He had sinned against God and against Jacob, his father, by sleeping with his father’s concubine, Bilhah.

Then, Reuben had failed to save Joseph. Rather than courageously standing up to his brothers to defend Joseph, he compromised and encouraged them to cast Joseph into a pit. He agreed to lie to Jacob, implying that Joseph had been killed by an animal.

Now, Reuben has returned with grain, but failed to bring back Simeon. Faced with another failure, he makes the rash offer to let Jacob kill Reuben’s sons if he failed again. Such a rash vow shows what Reuben fears most: failure.

Are you afraid of letting others down? Do you feel like a failure? Are you scared that others see you as never measuring up?

EVERYONE’S AFRAID. WE MUST IN FAITH CHOOSE WHAT (AND WHO) TO FEAR MOST.

We have identified 6/7 fears in Genesis 42: (1) fear of dying, (2) fear for loved ones, (3) fear of exposure, (4) fear of calamity, (5) fear of despair, and (6) fear of failure.

Every one of us can likely relate to one or two of these fears.

Here’s the seventh fear in Genesis 42, and it hints at how we, by God’s grace, can overcome these lesser fears: “On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God,’” (Genesis 42:18).

Joseph’s bringing the brothers out of custody on the third day and sending all but one back to their home speaks to his fear of God.

Here is the great cure to lesser fears – the greatest fear: fear of God Himself.

This reverence is what leads to other fears finding their right place in our lives.

Solomon taught his son, “The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight,” (Proverbs 9:10) because to fear God first, and centrally, is the first step in the right direction for life. Revering God most begins to put other fears in their proper place, of far less importance than God and what He says.

Fear is an emotional response to danger, the “yikes” or “woah” that makes us want to fight or take flight. By itself, fear is neither praiseworthy or blameworthy. It is how we respond to fear and what we allow ourselves to most fear that determines whether ours is godly or ungodly fear.

For fear to be godly, we must first centrally FEAR GOD.

Moses Himself learned this when he interacted with God in the wilderness.

Afraid of how Egypt and Israel would respond to Moses telling Pharaoh to let the Israelites leave, Moses begged God for help. God commanded Moses to throw his staff on the ground. When Moses did, the staff became a snake, and Moses ran from it (Exodus 4:3). The LORD told him to “reach out your hand and take it by the tail,” (Exodus 4:4). Moses did so.

Having the fear of God central to our hearts doesn’t mean we never experience fear of things like snakes, but we have a more central fear and faith that helps us overcome the lesser fears. Most was still scared of the snake, but he both loved and feared God more, so he obeyed and picked up the snake.

Let’s put this claim to the test: If we fear God most will that help us overcome other fears?

FEAR OF DYING: Solomon said, “The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short,” (Proverbs 10:27). To live by fearing death most is to rob the days of sweetness, whereas to live each day grateful and reverent and trusting God is to fill our days with joy and significance. Every day is a gift from the God we fear and love. Fearing God most lessens fear of dying.

FEAR FOR LOVED ONES: Solomon added, “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death,” (Proverbs 14:27) because when we trust Jesus and our hope is heaven, not even death can conquer us. In Jesus alone we have hope beyond death both for ourselves and for those we love. Trust God with them. Fearing God most lessens fear for loved ones.

FEAR OF CALAMITY: “Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it,” (Proverbs 15:16) because fearing calamity and fearing we will lose everything happens when we treasure the things of this world most. However, fearing and trusting God is far better for He owns it all and knows what we need. Moreover when our hope is in heaven, we see the things of this world as not too important. Fearing God most lessens fear of calamity.

FEAR OF FAILURE: “The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor,” (Proverbs 15:33). When we fear men and failure most, we crave honor like a god, and we fear shame. Yet, when we fear God most, trust Jesus, and find our identity in Christ, we can freely admit we fall short and instead find strength in Jesus. Fearing God most lessens fear of failure.

FEAR OF DESPAIR: Solomon said, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied,” (Proverbs 19:23). When we revere God at the center of our life, trusting His Son Jesus, we begin to learn of the incredible life we have now and forever, and our reasons to despair vanish under the light of the gospel. Fearing God most lessens fear of despair.

FEAR OF EXPOSURE: Solomon taught, “By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil,” (Proverbs 16:6). When we fear men and our deeds being exposed, we ultimately fear that our sins will be dragged into the light. But, why not fear God most, confess those sins, and find forgiveness by faith in Jesus Christ? That is freedom from fear of exposure. Fearing God most lessens fear of exposure.

Jesus Himself taught, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell,” (Matthew 10:28). The biggest fear is facing the Holy God in our sins when we die. Praise God, though, that fear leads us to faith in the One who can save us from that day. You see, true fear of the LORD becomes coupled with love for God by trusting in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and finding in Jesus sweet forgiveness of sins, and freedom.

Joseph freed his brothers on the third day from prison. Moses made sure we knew it was on the third day they came back out of the pit. I think this was because the Holy Spirit was preparing for the great third day when Jesus rose from the dead, as Paul pointed out: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

Paul taught that the Old Testament Scriptures pointed forward to a Messiah who would die, and who would rise from the dead on the third day.

One way God foreshadowed His Son rising from the dead was by inspiring the biblical authors to make sure we knew what happened on the third day.

Here in Genesis 42, it’s the third day when the prisoners are freed from the pit, foreshadowing when the Son would emerge from the grave on the third day.

AND, because Jesus died in our place for our sins, was buried, and rose victoriously on the third day, we can be forgiven of our sins, have eternal hope, and rightly put all of our fears underneath our reverence and faith in Jesus. Trust Jesus. Endure by trust in Jesus. Allow Jesus to make your other fears smaller and smaller. He is that good. Don’t give up.

The Bible invites us to encounter God in Jesus, and find Him worth both fearing and loving, and therefore trusting forever to forgive our sins as Savior, and committing to follow Him forever as Lord. If your life is filled with fears, do you need to see God (again) in Jesus?

Today, we have seen numerous people very afraid of things like (1) dying, (2) for loved ones, (3) despair, (4) calamity, (5) failure, and (6) exposure.

 

We learned that fear is an emotional response to fight or flee from danger, the initial “yikes” emotion.

Fear in and of itself, therefore, is neither praiseworthy or blameworthy, neither good or bad.

It’s how we respond to that fear, what we do with that emotion, how big a place we give to that fear, that determines whether we are acting wisely or foolishly.

The Bible claims that there is a right ordering of our fears, and that the most important, biggest, and central fear of our lives should be the fear of the LORD.

Joseph demonstrated the fear of the LORD when he released his brothers.

Moses showed the fear of the LORD when he picked up a snake by its tail because God told him to.

In order to rightly order our fears, we must pursue Christ, and genuinely encountering the Holy and Awesome God.

As we habitually encounter Jesus, we add to fear of the LORD a love for God by faith in Christ Jesus.

When this fear-love is combined, it has the power to free our hearts from the crippling grip of lesser fears.

Things like being afraid to die or afraid for our loved ones will still be emotions we experience, but they will not cripple us. They will find their place bowing underneath our fear and love for God.

 

Here are three things I want you to do if you live with crippling fear.

First, confess it to God and ask His forgiveness for fearing things more than Him.

Second, ask for God’s help as you pursue fearing God most. If you have never trusted Jesus as Lord and Savior, ask God to help you there first. True fear of the LORD is a fear-love, a combination of both fearing and loving God by faith in Jesus Christ.

Third, dive into two books of the Bible to fix your eyes on Jesus and grow in the fear of the LORD: Psalms and the Gospel of Matthew. As you read (I suggest a chapter from each every day for a month), ask God to show you what it looks like to rightly fear God.

 

These three things will launch you into: (1) deeper obedience, (2) a deeper admiration of God, and (3) a deeper care for other people. And, as you grow in this fear-love, (4) your other fears will get smaller and smaller, by His grace. This is a journey, not a one-day exercise. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, and God promises to be with you every step of the way from your initial time of professing faith in Jesus all the way until the day you die.

 

I want to conclude by praying for each of you. If you want to speak more about specific fears you have, please let me know or drop by my office. Your UMT is here to help connect you with God.