FEAR JEHOVAH AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS -Three Who Feared God

Three Who Feared God

There is one man in the Bible whom Jehovah personally described as his friend-the patriarch Abraham.  (Isaiah 41:8) Abraham's godly fear was put to the test when God asked hm to offer  as a sacrifice his only son, Isaac, through whom God would fulfill his promise that Abraham's offspring would become a great nation.   (Genesis 12:2, 3; 17:19) Would  "Jehovah's friend" pass this painful test?  (James 2:23) At the very moment when Abraham raised his knife to kill Isaac, Jehovah's angel said:  "Do not put your hand against the boy and do not do anything at all to him, for now I do know  that you are God-fearing in that you have not withheld your son, your only one, from me." -Genesis 22:10-12.

Although Abraham had previously proved himself to be one who feared Jehovah, on that occasion he manifested his godly fear in an outstanding way.  His willingness to sacrifice Isaac was far more than a show of respectful obedience.  Abraham was motivated by an absolute trust that his heavenly Father would fulfill His promise by resurrecting Isaac if necessary. As Paul wrote, Abraham was "fully convinced that what [God] had promised he was also able to do."  (Romans 4:16-21) Are we prepared to do God's will even when it requires major sacrifices?  Do we have total confidence that such obedience will bring long-term benefits, knowing that Jehovah is "the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him?" (Hebrews 11:6)  That is true fear of God. -Psalm 115:11.

Let us examine another example of godly fear in action-that of Joseph.  As a slave in Potiphar's household,m Joseph found himself faced with pressure to commit adultery.  There apparently was no way he could avoid contact with his master's wife, who persistently made immoral advances toward him.  Finally, when she "grabbed hold of him,"  he "took to flight and went on outside."   What impelled him to turn aside from bad immediately? undoubtedly, the principal factor was fear of God, the desire to avoid committing "this great badness and actually sin against God."  (Genesis 39:7-12)  Joseph could rightly describe himself as a man who 'feard the true God.' -Genesis 42:18. 

Years later Joseph came fact-to-face with his brothers, who had heartlessly sold hm into slavery.  He could easily have used their desperate need for food as an opportunity to avenge the wrong they had done to him.  But treating people tyrannically does not reflect the fear of God.  (Leviticus 25:43)  Thus, when Joseph saw ample proof of his brothers' change of heart, he mercifully forgave them.  Like Joseph, our godly fear will move us to conquer evil with good, as well as hold  us back from falling into temptation. -Genesis 45:1-11; Psalm 130:3, 4; Romans 12:17-21.

Job was another outstanding example of one who feared God.  Jehovah said to the Devil:  "Have you set your heart upon my servant Job, that there is no one like him in the earth, a man blameless and upright, fearing God and turning aside from bad?"  (Job 1:8) For many years, Job's blameless conduct had gladdened the heart of his heavenly Father.  Job feared God because he knew that it was the right thing to do and the best way to live.  "Look! The fear of Jehovah-that is wisdom," Job exclaimed,  "and to turn away from bad is understanding."  (Job 28:28)  As a married man, Job was not improperly attentive to young women, nor did he harbor adulterous schemes in his heart.  Although a rich man, he refused to put his trust in riches, and he shunned every form of idolatry. -Job 31:1, 9-11, 24-28.

Fear of God, however, means doing what is good as well as turning aside from what is bad.  Thus, job took a kindly interest in the blind, the lame and the poor.  (Leviticus 19:14; Job 29:15, 16)  Job understood that "anyone who withholds loving-kindness from his own fellow, he will also leave off even the fear of the Almighty." (Job 6:14)  Withholding loving-kindness could include withholding forgiveness, or harboring a grudge. At God's direction, Job prayed in behalf of his three companions, who had caused him so much grief.  (Job 42_7-10) Could we show a similar forgiving spirit toward a fellow believer who may have hurt us in some way? A sincere prayer in behalf of the one who has offended us can do much to help us overcome resentment.  The blessings Job enjoyed for his godly fear give us a foregleam of 'the abundant goodness Jehovah has treasured up for those fearing him.' -Psalm 31:19; James 5:11.

Next time: FEAR JEHOVAH AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS Fear of God Versus Fear of Man

The Watchtower, 2001