Saul had inspired much fear in the early church by pursuing and persecuting believers in Christ. When Christ met him on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1–19), he found the true fear of the Lord and did a complete turn around. But when he arrived in Jerusalem, the original disciples remained afraid of him (v. 26). They didn’t trust him. Was this another trap? How could an outspoken enemy like Saul become a believing friend?
In faith, Barnabas took a risk and became Saul’s advocate with the apostles (v. 27). Barnabas probably felt a bit afraid, like Ananias when he was told to go and heal Saul (9:13–14). It would have been normal, even sensible, humanly speaking. By obeying God in faith, they put the fear of the Lord ahead of their own human fears.
The church’s former greatest enemy had become one of them (vv. 28–30)! The believers perhaps watched with amazement as Paul evangelized boldly in Jerusalem, debated successfully with the Hellenistic Jews, and aroused their enmity to the point where they even tried to kill him. The believers then sent him to Tarsus for his own safety.
Otherwise, with Saul the persecutor transformed into Paul the apostle, the church enjoyed a time of relative peace and growth. “Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers” (v. 31).
John taught, “There is no fear in love” and “Perfect love drives out fear.” He meant the fear of punishment. That fear is gone for us because Christ took the punishment for our sins (1 John 4:16–18). The apostles, Barnabas, Paul, and all the believers did not fear punishment or persecution. They did, though, fear the Lord and on this basis the church grew and was encouraged.
Go Deeper
As the apostles’ behavior toward Paul illustrates, it’s difficult to change fearful habits. How can we retrain our hearts away from human fears and toward holy fear, that is, the fear of the Lord?
Pray with Us: Jesus, You saved us into a community. In You we have our family of faith, our brothers and sisters who walk this road of faith alongside us. We are grateful that we can journey together in courage, support, and godly fear of the Lord.
Many these days have been wondering if we’re too casual or “flip” with God. We livestream church for our convenience. We check our phones during the worship service. We wear very informal clothing and judge a church by the quality of its snacks and coffee. God is our “good buddy.”
The story of Ananias and Sapphira gives us fair warning of what can happen when we lack the fear of the Lord. We’re including this negative example to underline the seriousness of the issues involved. Taking the fear of the Lord lightly is not a chuckle-worthy mistake but rather a fatal error in our relationship with God.
Ananias and Sapphira did not have the fear the Lord. Their gift to the church from their land sale was not an act of worship. Rather, they put on a show to be admired for their “generosity” and to earn status in the eyes of others. Apparently, they viewed “church” as just another social ladder to climb. In pride, both told a premeditated lie (vv. 3–4, 9). They must have had a pretty low opinion of God if they thought they could fool Him in this way. Unsurprisingly, Satan was behind their actions.
Ananias and Sapphira were punished with death for their pride and lies. Among other things, they didn’t understand that “Humility is the fear of the LORD“ (Prov. 22:4). God is not to be tested or trifled with (v. 9). “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events” (v. 11). As God’s name had been dishonored by the couple’s actions, so their deaths brought Him glory. The church and a watching world learned a memorable lesson: Everyone was reminded of God’s greatness and power and that He absolutely must be approached with awe and reverence.
Go Deeper
What are your motivations for giving or for doing good deeds? Are there deeper layers that need exposing? If applicable, ask the Spirit to help you confess any sins in this area.
Pray with Us: Sin is powerful and destructive. As we read of Ananias and Sapphira, we are reminded of the dangers of pride and lack of the fear of the Lord. God, search our hearts and keep us humble! Reveal to us any hidden sin we should confess.
Fat Bear Week is held every year at Katmai National Park in Alaska. Twelve bears are entered into a bracket-style competition, with online viewers voting based on the bears’ success at fishing for salmon from the Brooks River. The winner in 2023 was a female bear named 128 Grazer. The National Park Service has been tracking her since she was a cub and called her one of the most skilled anglers in the region.
Luke 5 contains another good fishing story. Jesus boarded Peter’s boat so that He could put out from shore a bit and better teach the crowds. Sadly, Peter and Andrew hadn’t caught any fish all night. When Jesus gave the word, though, they let down their nets and miraculously caught so many that the nets were near breaking and the boat near sinking (vv. 6–7). They had to call James and John to help!
Peter knew he was in the presence of a Man who could do the impossible. He felt “astonished” at Jesus’s awe-inspiring display of power over creation, as well as a strong sense of his own sin and unworthiness. He fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (v. 8; see Isa. 6:5). In short, he felt the fear of the Lord. Though Peter had turned in the right direction, toward Jesus, the Lord still had to tell him, “Don’t be afraid” (v. 10). All four fishermen responded in faith to this miracle and to Jesus’s compelling and somewhat humorous call, “From now on you will fish for people” (vv. 10–11).
In this episode, Peter and the others felt God’s power and authority. They sensed that Jesus was the Son of God. They felt a fear that pulled them toward Him, and they left everything to become His disciples.
Go Deeper
How firm is your loyalty to being Christ’s disciple? What are you willing to do or endure? Compare your answers to the cost of discipleship outlined in Luke 14:25–27.
Pray with Us: Dear Lord, help us better understand the true cost of following You, of sacrifices and rewards of discipleship, and what it means to die to ourselves. Thank You that we can experience You through Your Word the way Peter and others did.
Why did Rahab betray the city of Jericho to the invading Israelites (Joshua 2)? She told the two spies: “I know that the LORD has given you this land 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. ...When we heard of it [Israel’s victories], our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.”
Because the people of Jericho stood against God, fear of the Lord was just plain fear. But when Rahab switched sides, she chose to worship the one true God. Her fear turned to awe, reverence, and delight. Ezekiel felt similarly in today’s passage. While initially overwhelmed by his visions of God, he later felt strengthened and called to ministry (see chapters 2–3).
At first, Ezekiel saw what looked like a windstorm, with clouds and flashing lightning. When it came closer, he saw four angels (cherubim) with otherworldly appearances (vv. 5–14, 22–24) and the wheels-within-wheels by which they moved (vv. 15–21). They were impressive, but they were only God’s messengers, or attendants.
Finally, God is described indirectly by way of a vaulted sky, a throne, and “a figure like that of a man” (vv. 25–28). His appearance like glowing metal and fire represents God’s power and glory. He’s also compared to a rainbow’s appearance after the rain. The passage informs us that this was only “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.” A direct description or vision wasn’t possible.
When he saw this vision, Ezekiel “fell facedown” in extreme awe, humility, and respect (v. 28). Many others in Scripture have also done so, including Abram (Gen. 17:3) and the three disciples during the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:6).
Go Deeper
What exactly is holy fear? How can the fear of the Lord overwhelm us and yet at the same time draw us nearer to Him?
Pray with Us: Ezekiel saw only “the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord” (Ezek. 1:28). Thank you, Lord, for speaking to us through Your Son who is “the radiance of God’s glory” (Heb. 1:3).
A good woman is priceless! Nonetheless, Salary.com recently tried to appraise the financial value of a stay-at-home mom. Based on the market value of the skills she needs and uses daily, their analysis estimated that her annual salary should be $184,820.
But, according to Proverbs 31, her inward character is even more valuable than outward factors. We need to understand that the “wife of noble character”—or literally, “a woman of valor” (v. 10)—is an ideal, not an individual person. The climax of the description is found in today’s verse: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (v. 30). This brings the Book of Proverbs full circle from the first chapter (1:7).
What virtues and actions are associated with her fear of the Lord? She works hard (vv. 13–15, 17, 19, 27), plans wisely (and so “can laugh at the days to come” because she’s not anxious, v. 25), and has good business sense (vv. 16, 18, 24). She’s strong (v. 17), dignified (v. 25), and wise (v. 26). She’s generous toward the poor (v. 20; Prov. 14:31). She takes good care of her family (vv. 15, 21–22, 27), including teaching her children and guiding them toward maturity (v. 26). She supports her husband and he in turn has full confidence in her (vv. 11–12). He’s respected in the community, in part because of her (v. 23). She, too, is respected in the community and praised by her family (vv. 28, 31).
Such a woman’s outward actions flow from her inward virtues, and these in turn flow from her overall orientation of fearing the Lord. The “wife of noble character,” then, is an ideal we can all learn from!
Go Deeper
How might we, men and women, cultivate our inward orientations and virtues? Our culture pushes us toward outward appearances, our brand, our image. How can the fear of the Lord help us resist this?
Pray with Us: Lord, if we are honest, the Proverbs 31 woman seems unrealistic and often intimidating. But, like her, we follow the same God who guides and gives gifts. Help us, men and women, to become people “of noble character” (Prov. 31:10).
