Fear

"Do not lay a hand on the boy," he said. "Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son." Genesis 22:12 (NIV)

Fear is something I have come to, well, fear. Generally, it isn't a good feeling or one I want to go around feeling a whole lot. Fear is different from excitement or exhilaration or thrill. That kind of "fear" comes when you are bungee jumping or riding a roller coaster. You know deep down that you will be perfectly safe. Real fear means that danger, serious danger, is imminent. It means that every decision, every word, every action could lead to improving one's safety, or increasing the threat at hand. If fear is something we humans tend to avoid, then why does God command us to fear Him (Deuteronomy 6:13, et al.)? Fearing God is mentioned hand-in-hand with serving Him and keeping His commandments. Do we fear God today?

The story in Genesis where Abraham is one arm's swing away from sacrificing Isaac is a classic example of going all the way for God. Abraham so feared God that he was willing to kill for Him. The Lord recognized his fear and stopped Abraham seconds before the sacrifice took place. I wonder what would have happened to Abraham had he not been willing to go that far for his Lord.

I do not know anyone, nor have I ever felt the call to do this to my child. But I wonder, where would God take me, what would He do, if I truly feared Him? Sometimes we only see one side of God. We either see the harsh, unmoving God who only punishes. Other times we see the God of grace and mercy. Hardly ever are these two characteristics reconciled. God combines these two in the example of Abraham. He shows that He can demand whatever He wants, even without our understanding or approval. I am certain Abraham did not want to sacrifice Isaac, but did so out of sheer obedience. But God also showed His mercy and grace by stopping Abraham before he had to go through with it. On the flipside, God showed mercy and grace by sacrificing His own Son, Jesus, on the cross. God showed us through both those examples that He will never lead us astray. He proved both days that fearing Him, which requires faithful and unwavering obedience, will never take us off course.

God, build in me faith that does not blow off course, but obeys Your will no matter what it requires of me personally. Amen.

Nikki Hamsher