WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO 'FEAR GOD'?

All the research confirms how children form their conception of God.

The key is the father.  The dad.  Absent fathers imprint an "absent God" upon the young heart.  Emotionally distant fathers imprint an "impersonal uncaring God" on the young life.  Caring, involved, discipling fathers imprint an "interested, loving God" on the young life.

Sometimes the mother, or the grandmother, or perhaps a coach can make up for an univolved or absent dad, and imprint something of God's true role in our lives.

WHAT KIND OF GOD IS THERE?

The very 1st chapters of the Bible tell us volumes about God.  In Genesis 1, "Elohim" (the powerful One) is creating and shaping the universe, the world, and life (plant, animal, human) with the skill of a designer-craftsman.  Elohim makes man in His image, and bestows some of His authority and creativity in humans to manage the wonderful world He has brought into being.  He is the magnificently powerful One.

But in Genesis 2, the name of God changes to "Yahweh," the more personal name for God.  More importantly, the God who calls humanity into a relationship with Him.  He is the personal God, the promise making and promise keeping God, directing man to enjoy and fully develop what He has provided, but also to do so obeying moral law.  Should disobedience occur, the clearly communicated consequences will happen (death, distance, and disfellowship), and it will be difficult.

So the God who is there is All Powerful and Eagerly Personal.  The joy and blessing of His presence and provisions are offered, while at the same time the discipline of His Hand is at the ready when disobedience is chosen.  Blessing or cursing; intimacy or distance; the Joy of presence and fellowship or the difficulty of judgement and discipline.  Israel had set before it Deuteronomy 28 and Deuteronomy 29.

FEARING OUR FATHER

My own dad exhibited those characteristics to me.  I was his son.  Always, I knew of his love.  On most days, I made choices to enjoy the benefits of his blessing.  But there were other days when I chose, in rebellion, to disobey.  And when I did, I knew what was coming.  There would be discipline (for my good) and I (initially) would like nothing about it.

In other words, I lived in joyful yet "reverent fear" of my dad, and it was the healthiest of relationships.  I wasn't afraid of him, because he would never do anything "out of character" or "randomly inscrutable."  But I was sobered by the prospect that my disobedience and foolishness could (and would likely) bring his powerful, disciplining hand.

This, to be sure, is what fearing God is all about.  We live in the confidence that by faith in God's grace we belong to Him in Christ.  We also live in the reality that He is God and we are not, and that He has the right to direct, advise, shape, and discipline our lives for our good...and that process may sometimes be very difficult.

Peter, who knew much of both God's grace and discipline, writes, "If you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout your time of exile (i.e., life on earth before heaven), knowing you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers..." 1 Peter 1:17-18.