When Is Fear A Good Thing?

“Do not be afraid; for God has come only to test you and to put the fear of him upon you so that you do not sin.” Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. – Exodus 20:20 & 21, NRSV

The paragraph proceeding this describes people who are scared.  And not a little.

I remember the first horror movie that I ever watched.  My sister and I rented The Exorcist when we were in junior high.  We were so afraid.  We had to keep stopping the movie to get some relief.  I am not sure that we ever finished it.

This was only the first part of a scary story, however.  When my mother found out that we had seen it, we saw part two.

So let’s return to the Israelites.  They are not just scared, they are terrified.  It is in a way that I cannot understand.  Horror movies could not elicit this type of response, because there is some comfort in that pause button.  The imagination is allowed to take a break, even if it is only closing our eyes through all the scary parts.

The same thing happens when we read scripture.  There is privilege in our safe place, specifically on my fluffy couch.  Standing between me and this lesson is 66 books and thousands of years.

Our response would be the same, though.

These were real people, real families.  Mothers and fathers standing with their children in the midst of consuming nature.  Thunder and lightning filled the sky, and to augment the noise there was trumpeting, endless trumpeting.  The mountain itself was smoking.  Smoking?!

It was sheer sensory overload.  There was no escape, no comfort of the paused imagination.  The Israelites were seeing God raw.

Then the craziest part of the story…Moses says, “Don’t be afraid.”  Have you ever had anyone tell you something contrary to every piece of information going to your brain?

It’s only a test.

Just relax.

This too shall pass.

This will hurt me more than it hurts you.

The world is falling apart around you and one voice tells you to skip the fear.  It would be like someone telling my sister and I, “Don’t pay attention to the scary girl with the spinning head.”

Moses’ word to the Israelites was to step back from the violent display around them.  What?

What do we do with that?  Just don’t obsess over your failing marriage, or your worthless job.  Ignore your bills that are stacking up for a minute.

Actually, that is exactly what we do.  No matter what storm you are watching, you are right where God wants you. God does not display himself fearfully to push us away, but draw us closer.

This is the reason that Moses can look at this raw display and get excited.  He realizes how far God will go to get the attention of his people.  Lightening and thunder, trumpets and smoke gathering together.  It is right to fear the the unleashed power of God.  It is right to draw close to His side when everything around us reinforces our need to wander.  It is right to get excited for what could happen next.

Test?  Normal.

Fear?  Natural.

Freedom?  Inevitable.

Do you see the center of that storm, that thick darkness?  Does it seem impossible that it could be your safest place?

Take a walk into that storm and let God demonstrate His power in your life.  And get excited!

Tracy Knowlton

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