A God of Fear??
Linda is away during March, Clayton Bjelan brings you today’s devotion…
They were describing something like Hitler crossed with the Devil
Reference: v9 ”I know that the Lord has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you” (NIV Bible)
Explore: I had a teacher in school who instilled fear into me even before I met her. You know those teachers – the ones that all the other kids speak about as though they were describing something like Hitler crossed with the Devil!
And this teacher didn’t do anything to dispel the myths… she was strict and seemed stern. Even though I was regarded as a ‘good kid’ – I never dared to even think of having my shirt un-tucked if she was anywhere around.
It’s funny to look back on that teacher, because my wife is also a teacher and actually ended up working with her years and years later – and this scary teacher is in reality a really nice lady!
Application: I’ve often struggled with the passages in the Bible that talk about the ‘Fear of God’, maybe it’s because I like to look at God as a ‘God of love’ and it doesn’t seem that they can work together.
But as we look at this passage we see that the ‘Fear of God’ was shining through God’s people and scaring the enemy. But we also see mercy. Mercy for those who chose to side with God and his people.
That is, in fact, the message of the entire Bible. Yes, God is a God to be feared – he does have everything in control and can destroy – but he chooses to hand out mercy… if we’ll accept it.
Prayer: Dear God, we pray that we would live in reverent fear of your ability and power, but also understand that you wish to show restraint and mercy more than anything else. Thank you.
How do you balance in your spiritual life, that God is to be feared but is also full of love?
This article was written by Clayton Bjelan