As we are still in chapter 26 of Genesis today, we find something that sounds familiar. This same narrative has already been seen twice and now we see it once again with Isaac. He has the same fear his father Abraham had. Genesis 26:6-7 So Isaac settled in Gerar. When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” for he יָרֵא feared to say, “My wife,” thinking, “lest the men of the place should kill me because of Rebekah,” because she was attractive in appearance. One of the easiest things in life is to become like our parents because we have grown up watching them and pick up on their habits. But God calls us to imitate him as our father.
Our word for today is used twice in our chapter. יָרֵא fear, be afraid, be scared or frightened of. It is used 316 times in the Old Testament. We just saw it used with Isaac being afraid that he and his wife would be killed so he lies. Now God uses our word in responding to Isaac. Genesis 26:24 And the Lord appeared to him the same night and said, “I am the God of Abraham your father. יָרֵא Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake.” The word אַל not, is an adverb of negation. So when we have these two words together אַל־תִּירָא֙ we get fear not. This combination is used 40 times in the Old Testament. Here are some great examples. Isaiah 41:10, 13 יָרֵא Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand… For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “יָרֵא Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Psalm 118:6 The Lord is on my side; I will not יָרֵאfear. What can man do to me? This brings up the key to not fearing anything because God is on my side. Another way to say this is that I fear God. He is on my side because I fear him. When you fear God you have no other fears. Because you respect God’s power and influence so much that you follow him and when you do you don’t have to worry about what anyone else can or might do to you. This is what God calls wisdom in Proverbs 1:7 The יָרֵאfear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Jesus also says this in Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Now Jesus isn’t saying that we should be terrified of God necessarily rather his point is that we can trust God and don’t have to be afraid of anyone or anything because they can’t separate us from the one that really matters in life … sounds like a verse in Romans we will save that for another day. I love how Jesus continues after verse 28 with the scary destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Did you see what Jesus did there we don’t have to be terrified of God that he just can’t wait to destroy us no he loves us. We are so valuable to him that we can trust him, we can fear him because he loves us so much. I will close with a great proverb which shows us one of the many benefits of fearing God. Proverbs 19:23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
