Fearing God and its Benefits

 Many people fear the wrong things, and they don't fear the One they should fear. Most people fear what other people might do to them. They fear what might happen if the economy takes a bad turn. Others fear getting a disease like cancer. Because of these and other fears, they live lives that are without peace, and they don't see the benefits God wants them to have. We should not fear anything else except God, Himself.

The Egyptian midwives are a good example of having godly fear. (Exodus 1:17,21) Because the midwives feared God, they refused to obey the king's orders. They allowed the Hebrews boys to live along with the girls. Then, because of their fear of God, God gave the midwives families of their own. Here were two pagan ladies who feared God in the right way, even though many believers don't fear God as we should.

The fear of God means that we respect God. We obey Him, knowing that if we don't obey God, He could punish us very severely. It is worshiping God by listening to what He says and doing what He would have us to do. The midwives did not fear Pharaoh, but they obeyed God. They knew in their hearts that God would not want them to kill the baby boys at birth, so they disobeyed the most powerful ruler on earth. We, as Christians, need to stop fearing what people and this world can do to us and start obeying God alone.

Then, God will bless us because He will see that our heart is set on Him, not on the things of this world. He will bless us with the most precious things this life has to offer. Just like God gave the midwives families of their own, God will bless our families with love, as we obey and worship Him alone. God knows just what we need, and He is quick to respond in grace and mercy to those who fear Him. I pray we will learn the lesson of the midwives and fear God alone. Then, watch to see what He does for us.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Exodus 3-5.