"All the people who talked with God feared and respected Him. How is it the way we fear is so different?"

[One thing I greatly admire about my Kenyan students is that they really know how to ask questions. If you've been following along since late last week, I've been sharing questions students asked me when I traveled to Kenya in 2004. It seems that once the questions began, the more difficult they became--stay tuned to see what I mean.]

As I consider the question, two thoughts come to mind: first, the fear of the Lord is one theme that deserves serious study by every believer. We see in scripture that communication with God brings about such deep reverence, fear and respect on the part of the one with whom God is talking. The second matter that comes to mind is that there does seem to be a careless attitude, a lack of fear and respect on part of many who say they know the Lord; however, such flippancy does not go unnoticed in scripture.

Recall with me the Sinai experience. Moses is on the mountain, and the people gathered around with the stern warning not to come near nor touch the mountain. Moses hears God's voice and the people hear thunder. Moses sees the glory of the Lord pass before Him and the people percieve lightning and fire. Then, during the giving of the Law, the Lord God makes it clear that He will be dwelling in the midst of the people and if the people are going to enjoy His terrible presence, they must abide by the moral, ceremonial and civil law (which merely shows the deficiency in all men and how God will provide the righteousness needed). The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was going to be the centerpiece of the people, tabernacling among them.

What a horrible experience to wake up in the morning and walk out the door (as everyone did) to see that cloud standing over the black tent in the middle of the camp. One could not go to the bathroom inside the camp, for that would make him unclean, and believe you me, there are not enough sacrifices to cover that need alone. Might as well live outside the camp and remain unclean, out of fellowship, away from the presence of the Lord until the day you die--and whoever touched your body would be unclean. What a compound problem.

But God made it clear that He was the Lord, and He was to be trusted to provide the cleansing needed to enjoy His presence. The sacrifice would have to come from Him, and would be made by Him, to Him, that we could even live in His presence.

Now, this same God makes us (me, you, all who repent and believe) His dwelling. Where is the fear? Is there fear? Should there be fear? Certainly He is to honored and exalted as God as He never changes. The same God who caused plagues to break out lives in those who trust and obey Him. The same God who caused idols to topple lives in us. The same God who made the earth open and swallow disobedient people lives in us. The same God who caused people to go up in flames lives in us. The same God that caused people to fall over dead for telling a lie lives inside me.

Personally, I think we take God too lightly. We are too self-assured that we forget the grace and mercy He shows us in Christ Jesus. The fact that we are not consumed (for example) is a demonstration of that grace and mercy in Christ Jesus. I think that reverent fear can and should be restored by meditating on the Cross.