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In Awe of God

Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem and Jesus was leading them, also filled with awe. Now, those following behind were in fear. And taking the twelve back again he told them the things that were to happen to him.*

Previously we looked at fear and determined that being in state of fear or fearfulness is not a godly characteristic.* Jesus knew that his death lay ahead, but he knew of what his death would bring, a new covenant, and he walked in purpose, not in fear but in awe. Being in awe of God is a godly characteristic of one possessing faith and maturity in Christ.

Listen, we are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priest and the scribes also they will condemn him to death and hand him over tot he gentiles.*

Some say the Romans condemned Jesus but it was the Jewish leaders, the high priest and scribes who did such a thing. Jesus spoke of this and his death but they did not understand.* Previously he healed a blind telling him not to tell anyone, as it was not time, but the man went around telling people. Later we see that when he healed a man born blind and raised Lazarus from the dead, they plotted to seize and kill him. So going up to Jerusalem the disciples knew of this and were in fear of these leaders and what might happen but Jesus was not fearful but walked in awe. Here we see a contrasting difference being fearful and in awe. So let us look at what it means to be in awe of God.

The disciples were in awe of his words, but Jesus answered again, saying to them, children, how difficult it exists to enter the kingdom of God.*

Today, we have what some call "easy believism" but Jesus said it is difficult to enter the kingdom of God. Elsewhere he said those who sought him did so because their bellies were filled, not for the right reason. While believing is the work of God one must labor for food that endures unto life. In fact this word difficult speaks of food, to be peevish about food. Peevish has a negative side also meaning to be discontent or dissatisfied but here it speaks of a positive aspect in regards to being dissatisfied with earthly things, obviously the rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking how to receive eternal life was not. To seek living bread one must be discontent with earthly life, selling all he has to possess the treasure of the kingdom of God. Jesus who came down from heaven, his words exist eternal life, food for the soul of the one empty, unfilled inside. So difficult means one must be peevish about food, laboring not for earthly food but in the mind considering His words, to be in awe, to find them of value, as Peter confessed, his words exist Life.

Do not be fearful for the Lord your God in your midst is a God great and awesome.*

In Old Testament translation from Hebrew we see as in the new testament Greek the interchangeable use of fear and awe. This verse helps in understanding giving us the two words together; fear and awe. This verse is saying do not tremble, be fearful, dread, affright or frightened, do not turn away from God but be in awe. Now, some have translated this word for awe as affright or frightened but that would make no sense in this verse, "do not be frightened for the Lord your God in your midst is God is great and frightening? not does it make sense to be in fear and awe of God at the same time. Therefore awe must have a meaning without the negative aspect of fear of fear.

He said I heard your voice in the garden and was fearful because I was naked, so I hid myself.*

Another question God could have asked Adam was why are you fearful and hiding from me? Strong's concordance suggests the root word for naked has a meaning to be cunning, crafty, prudent. There is both a negative and positive side of prudence as there is a serpent and nakedness. Surely, Adam knew nothing about how to be cunning, but the fruit he ate gave him the knowledge of good and evil, so now he had a choice. Possibly he recognized his sinful state or was now conscious of evil, either way he chose fear and hid from God. The serpent was more crafty, cunning than any beast.*  Jesus was speaking of this concept, when he said be cunning as a serpent, to observe the craftiness of Satan and evil men who would seek to destroy good.*

For Yahweh, God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe.

I read an article a while back in a medical, I have failed to relocate it, but it comes to mind as I study awe and fear in the Bible. The study was of people dying of cancer who voluntarily were observed and treated with medication for anxiety. Separated into two groups one group received a placebo, the other was treated with medication for anxiety. Interestingly though the study was secular it had surprising results, the group on medication for anxiety had a higher percentage of belief or faith in God before they died. I believe faith and fear are in contradiction to one another, fear inhibits faith. I think Jesus spoke of this, when he said to the disciples why do you exist fearful, still having no faith.*

God, your God, is the God of all gods, he’s the Master of all masters, a God great, mighty, and awesome...*

This verse has many names of God in it, so to translate properly one would need to know these, maybe for another time.* We focus here on the word for awesome again, this is how He properly wants to be viewed, not as fearful, but as awesome. I believe in Hebrew to English translation, or possibly directly from Greek to English as we have in the new testament translation, we have lost the meaning placing the words for fear and awe together. I am not alone as more and more words that have been translated as fear are now being translated properly as awe. Surely studying fear and awe in Hebrew is a worthy task but I am busy now with Greek. One good story in the Bible that shows us the difference between awe and  fear is the story of Job.

Here’s what you said. I heard you say it with my own ears. You said, ‘I’m pure—I’ve done nothing wrong. Believe me, I’m clean—my conscience is clear. But God keeps picking on me; he treats me like I’m his enemy. He’s thrown me in jail; he keeps me under constant surveillance.’*

Job has lost all and his friends are hounding, come clean tell us what you have done to deserve such treatment by God. Some today would even say such a thing about God, he punishes evil and rewards those who do good, but such lacks wisdom and understanding as God said about job's friends. Surely, I do not claim to be wise, to know the mind of God as the friends of Job claimed, I am speaking of what it means to be in awe of God. These friends went on, "why don't you just say ‘I sinned, but I’ll sin no more..." Now, here was a storm approaching, what a good time to use a comparison between this storm and God. 

"... Look up at the sky. Take a long hard look. See those clouds towering above you?... Then the skies open up and pour out soaking showers on everyone. Does anyone have the slightest idea how this happens? How he arranges the clouds, how he speaks in thunder? Just look at that lightning, his sky-filling light show illumining the dark depths of the sea! These are the symbols of his sovereignty, his generosity, his loving care. He hurls arrows of light, taking sure and accurate aim. The High God roars in the thunder, angry against evil... Listen to it! Listen to his thunder, the rolling, rumbling thunder of his voice. He lets loose his lightnings from horizon to horizon, lighting up the earth from pole to pole. In their wake, the thunder echoes his voice, powerful and majestic...”*

And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said: “Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you’re talking about? Pull yourself together, Job!
Up on your feet! Stand tall! I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers.
Where were you when I created the earth?...God then confronted Job directly “Now what do you have to say for yourself? Are you going to haul me, the Mighty One, into court and press charges? Job answered: “I’m speechless, in awe—words fail me. I should never have opened my mouth! I’ve talked too much, way too much. I’m ready to shut up and listen.”*

God chastises the friends of Job, for giving ungodly counsel to Job. There are many lessons here but in regards to fear and awe in this story we see a contrasting difference. The counsel of the friends of Job speaks of Job lacked fear of God, that he admitted no evil, which is the reason such calamity has come upon him. I believe they portray the awesomeness of God as fear like one would fear hearing thunder and lightening within a storm, instead of seeing it as awesome wonder. It is God who shows up in the storm, and He challenges their thinking of Him. Afterwards God peaks, Job responds to God, not in fear but in awe, "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me."* And Job continues saying an amazing thing,

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;* 

It is a lesson for us, Paul prays for our eyes to be enlightened in the love of God, which is beyond, difficult, for us to comprehend. Do not only hear about God from others, see Him, learn of his ways, He is a great and mighty and awesome God. Approach him boldly and be in awe of his wondrous ways.

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