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Fear, is one of the most powerful of human emotions. Fear can manifest itself in many different forms and can cause an otherwise normal person, to behave in a completely irrational manner. Fear can be a powerful means of motivation and has been used throughout history to oppress and restrain people. Fear can even be powerful enough to cause someone to abandon their other fears. People have entered burning buildings to retrieve loved ones, and even returned again and again, until everyone has been rescued and brought to safety. It is possible; to be completely consumed by fear and worry, until a person loses their ability to function normally. There are some people who are so fearful that they cannot bring themselves to leave their homes.

It is not God’s desire that our lives be filled with worry and anxiety. Christ made it plain that we are not to worry and fear about our situations and things yet to come. In Matthew 6 we are told: 31 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

We are also told, in Matthew 10, to not even fear for our own lives: 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (gehenna). 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Our responsibility and God’s promise is clear. We must make God and the pursuit of his kingdom the overriding priority in our lives if we want to live eternally with him. But, God will not force us, we must all come to him willingly and obediently.

In Psalms 111, we find the following passage: 10 The fear of the Eternal is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. Powerful words, “the fear of the Eternal”. How should we, or how do we fear God? In Genesis 22, we find one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible. God decides to test Abraham and instructs him to perform a specific task for him: 1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."

God was well aware of how much Abraham loved and cherished his only son Isaac; he deliberately assigned Abraham a task that would test him like no other. Abraham had to choose between his son and God and which one of them was first, in order of priority, in his life. Reading further, we learn of Abraham’s choice: 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" 8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."

Place yourself in Abraham’s place, for just a moment, and try to imagine the turmoil he must have gone through. Imagine your child lying on the altar and your hand about to strike with the knife. This was a most severe trial for Abraham, but his decision had been made. His hand was on the knife and he was determined to do what God had asked of him. Notice again what it says in verse 12: now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Abraham trusted God, he obeyed God and he had complete and total faith in God. He was willing to perform any task that God asked of him, even to the point of sacrificing his own son and because of all this Abraham was said to fear God.

The phrase “fear God” is not referring to a physical fear. God did not force Abraham to do as he asked. Abraham did not cower; he willingly went where God told him and set about performing the task. Because of his faith and trust, all of his descendants have been blessed. Abraham “feared God” and had the utmost respect for him and his position as the creator. Abraham also had absolute trust, faith, and confidence in God. God was first in Abraham’s life and he obeyed him without question. In the same way, God does not force us to come to him. God calls each of us individually, and individually we must submit to and fear God. Each of us also, must have the utmost respect, complete trust, confidence and faith in God, placing him in the proper place in our lives and not letting anything come between us and him and the unique relationship that exists.

At the same time, in order to properly fear God, we also must realize that there are penalties for disobedience to God’s laws and failing to do as he asks. Although God is not a cruel oppressor, penalties for disobedience can be severe; in some cases we can even lose out on eternal life. God does not wish for any of us to lose out on our reward and trials and tests are designed to get our attention, so that we will make the proper corrections in our actions, or attitudes. We must be prepared, at all times, to do anything that God may ask of us…just as Abraham, who did not question, but simply went about what God asked of him without complaint. There are going to be some very difficult times ahead, before the return of Jesus Christ to this earth. If we are to make it into God’s kingdom, we must obey God without question, we must fear God.