Two Kinds of Fear | Exodus 20:18-21
“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightening and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid, and trembled, and they stood far off, and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”
Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.”
—Exodus 20:18-21
A couple weeks ago, I took two of my grandchildren with me, to do something I love doing. We went fishing. And because their mom and dad had prepared them well, they were excited to go fishing with grandpa. We got to the lake while there was still plenty of daylight. We got in the boat while the lake was calm. And those children were eager to see fish, UNTIL I hooked up with one, one I immediately recognized was NOT a friendly, fresh-water version of Nemo. As I fought to land this untamed, aquatic creature, I became more excited, while my grandchildren became more apprehensive. When I finally got this, larger than average, Northern Pike into the boat, it still had plenty of fight. It thrashed violently. I’d get my hands around it, but it would shake itself free. And that mouth full of teeth communicated to those wide-eyed children, that this green, snapping beast was no pet with which to snuggle. Getting close to this fish was not safe. In fact, they backed up as far as they possibly could in our small, aluminum fishing boat. The excitement and anticipation of seeing and catching and, perhaps, even touching a fish was gone. They were clearly anxious and wanted nothing more to do with it. Meanwhile, grandpa was thinking, “this is awesome!” And “awesome” always has an element of fear.
There were two kinds of fear represented in the boat that night, just as there are two kinds of fear represented in Ex. 20:18-21. Referring to this passage, Charles Spurgeon writes,
“Fear is a word that has a wide range of meanings. There is a kind of fear to be shunned and avoided. That is, a fear which perfect love casts out because it has torment. But there is another sort of fear which has in it the very essence of love. And without which there would be no joy, even in the presence of God. Instead of perfect love casting out this fear, perfect love nourishes and cherishes it, and derives strength from it.”
—C.H. Spurgeon
In Ex. 20:18-21 we see two very different kinds of fear, one which we should “shun and avoid.” The other is a fear which has in it “the very essence of love.” It is a fear from which we derive strength. Or more specifically, There Is a Fear from Which Christians Draw Strength to Fight Sin.
And it is this fear that we should desire, and nourish, and cherish. So, let’s explore the difference between these two kinds of fear. And let’s think carefully, in particular, about the fear that we should want, the fear we should cultivate, and how it can actually transform our lives.
The context of this text, that is, the scene at the base of Mt. Sinai is crucial. So crucial, that the author recounts it twice – once in Ex. 19:16-19, and again, here in Ex. 20:18-21. And in this second account, however, we learn of the Israelites reaction to the awesome and overwhelming sights and sounds happening before them. And they are rocked by the appearing of God. Look again at Ex. 20:18.
“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightening and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid, and trembled, and they stood far off.”
—Exodus 20:18
God Himself had descended upon the mountain, revealing Himself to them, and speaking to them, in such a way that all their senses were engaged – with far more intensity, than if they were watching it unfold in IMAX XD. They experience an involuntary physical reaction to all they are seeing and hearing. They were “afraid and” they “trembled, and they stood far off.” They were conscious like never before, of the holiness of God. And they are aware like never before of their own sinfulness and guilt and shame. And so they back away from this apparent danger. They aim to create some space between them and “ground zero.” And we know that Moses was similarly affected. According to Heb. 12:21,
“Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
—Hebrews 12:21
It’s nearly impossible to think of a human or historical equivalent we might draw from to help us relate to their experience. One I recently read about is the eyewitness account of the first test of the atomic bomb. One scientist who worked on the “Trinity Project” said,
“I am sure that at the end of the world – in the last millisecond of the earth’s existence – the last man will see what we have just seen.”
—George Kistiakowsky
Regarding His close encounter with God, Moses said something remarkably similar. Dt. 5:26,
“Who is there of all flesh, that has heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of fire as we have, and has still lived?”
—Deuteronomy 5:26
The Israelites were so terrified, they never wanted to have this experience again. They don’t want the Lord to speak directly to them again. For they fear that if He does, they’ll die. Ex. 20:19,
“Do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”
—Exodus 20:19
So, this revelation, this awareness of God’s holiness, and this consciousness of their own sinfulness, particularly in light of the Ten Commandments they had just heard issued, it made them fear for their very lives. And so they appeal to Moses to act as their mediator between God and them. And that’s because they want to live and NOT die.
And keep in mind, these are God’s people. These are the people He has sovereignly and graciously chosen. These are the people whom God has saved from Egyptian slavery and oppression. These are the people whom God has carried out on eagle’s wings TO HIMSELF. And they are petrified. They are trembling. They are backing up, withdrawing from God’s presence. And they do not want to hear his audible voice again.
And Moses sees the fear which has gripped them. And this fear is NOT a fear they should “nourish and cherish.” So, Moses challenges this fear. Moses opposes this fear. And Moses, then, seeks to alleviate their fear by replacing it with another fear – a fear from which, and by which they might draw strength to fight sin. Look at Ex. 20:20,
“Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
—Exodus 20:20
That sounds weird, doesn’t it? “Don’t fear, so that you may fear.” It’s sounds like a contradiction. Except it’s not a contradiction. What we have here is actually a contrast of two kinds of fear. One is an inappropriate fear of God – a fear to be “shunned and avoided.” And the other is an appropriate fear of God – a fear to be “nourished and cherished” and treasured. And Moses’ purpose is to free the people of God – and to free us – from an improper kind of fear – by calling them and calling us to a proper kind of fear. So, what is their –
Improper Fear of God
Moses says, “Do not fear.” Why? What’s wrong with it? When the boat is small and there are lots of snapping teeth, what’s wrong with backing off? Do you see what it is that Moses does not approve of? Moses does not affirm the Israelites reaction to God’s appearance and to God’s commandments. Notice, Moses does not say, “You should be afraid!” “You have every reason to be shaken.” “The LORD your God is holy and you, most certainly, are NOT holy. So, stand back!” But Moses doesn’t say that.
Rather, Moses challenges their response. Moses commands them NOT to fear God IN THIS WAY. Their fear is a sinful fear.
And it is a sinful fear, because it drives them away from God, rather than drawing them to God. That is the essence of improper fear. A fear that causes God’s people to withdraw from God is not an appropriate fear of God. When God’s people hear His voice, hear His commands, and then keep their distance on account of guilt and shame, this is a “tormenting fear.” The kind of fear that generates an impulse to keep their distance – to stand far off, well that is an improper fear of God. It’s so wrong because it seems to have made them forget everything God has done to save them, and to deliver them to HIMSELF.
How is it that they seem to so quickly have forgotten what God said in Ex. 20:1-2, when He reminded them,
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”
—Exodus 20:1-2
Again, Charles Spurgeon, preaching on this text, says,
“When the LORD spoke to these people, with the voice of a trumpet and thunder, He did not speak in anger after all, but in love. For His first words set the keynote.
Here they are. ‘I am the LORD your God which hast brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.’ What gracious words! What happy memories they arouse. What lovingkindness they record.”
—C.H. Spurgeon
Does Ex. 20:1-2 sound like the words of a god who is eager to take them out? The Lord hasn’t brought them out to Sinai to crush them. He brought them out to Sinai to introduce Himself to them. God brought them out to betroth Himself to them, to have them, and to hold them, from this day forward, to the end. “I am the LORD your God.” The Israelites didn’t just hear the audible voice of God. They heard the audible voice of THEIR God, THEIR redeemer. THEIR bridegroom. And He has delivered them so that they might delight in Him and be satisfied by Him as their supreme treasure. He didn’t bring them out so they’d be freaked out by Him, and distance themselves from Him.
Now, it would be no surprise, in a gathering like this, that there are some here who are tempted to feel this kind of improper fear. You’ve been listening to sermon after sermon on the Ten Commandments. And you have become aware of your sins. We’ve all broken all of the Ten Commandments. And personally, and situationally, your sins have surfaced. Your sins are out there. And as this awareness lands on you – lands in your boat – and your impulse is to flee from God, rather than draw near to God, confessing your sins to God, and receiving forgiveness from God, then your fear lands squarely in the improper category. It’s like Adam’s fear, in the garden, when after sinning, in his guilt and shame, he sought to hide from God. Any impulse to withdraw from God, rather than draw near to God, especially when we have sin to confess to God, is an improper fear of God.
Now, notice what Moses says next. Again, Ex. 20:20.
“Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”
—Exodus 20:20
God has come to test you. In what sense is all this a test? Well, it’s not the first test. In Ex. 15:25 God had tested the Israelites at the waters of Marah. The people were afraid because there was no fresh water. And since God had brought them there, God was testing them there. And then in Ex. 16:4, God told the Israelites to NOT gather more Mannah than they needed for each day. And again, since God had provided the Mannah, God was testing them. And each test involved a trial that required trust in God and obedience to God. God is saying, “Do you trust me?” “Do you trust me to keep you, to care for you, to provide for you, to be enough for you?” And the current test in Ex. 20:20 once again requires trust in God that produces obedience to God. Will they obey him out of fear? Or will they obey him based on trust? It’s a test! God has graciously come to them. God has descended. God has stooped to them, in order to test them, so that the fear of Him may be before them. He delivered them. He revealed Himself to them. He has spoken audibly to them so that they might properly fear Him and NOT distance themselves from Him. So, what does passing this test look like? What is the -
Proper Fear of God
What does healthy, holy fear of God look like? Consider this definition by Sinclair Ferguson.
“True fear of God is at one and the same time a consciousness of being in the presence of true greatness and majesty, a thrilling sense of privilege, an overflow of respect and admiration, and above all, a sense that His opinion about my life is the only thing that matters.
To someone who fears God, His fatherly approval means everything. And the loss of it is the greatest of all griefs. To fear God is to have a heart that is sensitive to both His greatness and His graciousness.
To fear God is to possess a desire to please Him in heart and practice, relying on Him, and His promises, and warnings, and NOT grieve Him by sinning against Him.”
—Sinclair Ferguson
Isn’t that what Moses points us to Ex. 20:20? The effect of a right and proper fear of God is that we may NOT sin. The experience of the Israelites at Sinai is to test them and to teach them to fear the Lord, to trust the Lord, and to keep them from sinning against the Lord. In other words, the right and proper fear of God doesn’t drive you from God –
Proper Fear of God Draws Us to God and Keeps Us from Sinning Against God
It’s this kind of fear that will keep you from speaking harshly to your wife. This kind of fear will keep you from becoming bitter toward your husband. It will keep your from disciplining your children in self-righteous anger. It will keep you from complaining about your job. It will restrain you from cheating on your test. It will restrain you from gossiping about your co-worker. It will keep you from remaining silent when someone is slandering. It will keep you from coveting your neighbor’s things. It will keep you from clicking the link to that porn site. It will keep you from lying to cover your embarrassment and shame – or however many other examples of breaking the Ten Commandments that may have come to your mind.
Perhaps you have patterns of sin in your life that reveal the presence of improper fear of God, and your need to grow in proper fear of God. And if you find yourself seemingly trapped in patterns of sin, and paralyzed by guilt and shame because of your sin, and feeling hopeless about ever weakening and conquering your sin, there is hope for you in an unexpected place. Our hope is the PROPER FEAR OF GOD.
So, what can we do to nourish and cherish and grow in the good kind of fear? Why not begin by asking God for it. Ps. 86:11,
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. Unite my heart to fear your name.”
—Psalm 86:11
Proper fear of God is one of the most fundamental promises that belong to those whom God has made new. Jer. 32:40,
“I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me.”
—Jeremiah 32:40
So, ask God for it. Second, cultivate a proper fear of God by setting out afresh to know God. To fear God rightly, we must know God accurately. Ps. 34:8-9 says,
“Taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack no good thing.”
—Psalm 34:8-9
If you don’t have one, buy an exhaustive concordance and do a word study on the “fear of the Lord.” Start with looking up the “fear of the Lord” in the book of Proverbs. Read a book or two, or three like Knowing God, J.I. Packer, or The Holiness of God, R.C. Sproul, or Rejoice and Tremble, Michael Reeves, or The Joy of Fearing God, Jerry Bridges.
Third, confess your unbelief and improper fear to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Ask them to pray for you and to help you nourish this proper fear of God. And always remember, the proper fear of God will draw you to the Lord, not away from the Lord. And never forget that the proper fear of God will keep us from sinning against the Lord.
Now one last observation. When the Israelites saw the lightening flashes around them, mountain smoking above them, and heard the thunderclaps shaking the ground beneath them, and the voice of God Himself, they understood their need for a mediator. In light of God’s terrifying holiness, and their own overwhelming sinfulness, they needed someone to represent them before God – someone who would dare to approach God on their behalf. So, they ask Moses. V. 19,
“You speak to us, and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”
—Exodus 20:19
And then look at v. 21,
“The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.”
—Exodus 20:21
“You do it, Moses! You be our mediator!” This is holy ground because as they realized their need for a mediator, the Israelites are expressing what we all need, and how Moses points to another and final mediator. One commentator writes,
“Out of this realized need, one of the greatest revelations in the long line of OT promises of the Messiah comes. One greater than Moses, the Lord Jesus Christ. The sole mediator between God and man. Uniquely and supremely making God known. The Lord Jesus Christ, born under the law, flawlessly keeping the law, committed no sin, perfectly fulfilling the law for sinners like us, who are incapable of keeping even one commandment with any consistent, flawless integrity. Jesus does what Moses wasn’t able to do. For Moses was himself a lawbreaker.”
—Walter Kaiser
We desperately need a mediator. That should be the effect on our souls as we have made our way through the entirety of these ten commands. Jesus is the mediator Moses foreshadowed. Jesus is the mediator God provided. He keeps the law flawlessly on our behalf, and then he dies in our place as our substitute, suffering the wrath we deserve for our sins, satisfying the wrath of God for all our violations of the Ten Commandments. Jesus suffered the penalty we deserved, while giving himself as a ransom for ALL who trust in him.
So, we no longer live under the condemning power of the law, because of the mediator God has provided for us in His Son. There is therefore, now, no condemnation, for those who are IN Christ Jesus. And this pronouncement of no condemnation, because of Christ’s work as our mediator in our place, and on our behalf – loved ones, it produces, not only a love for God, but it also produces a proper fear of God. Ps. 130:4 says,
“With you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.”
—Psalm 130:4
As we close in song, rejoice. Rejoice because the one greater than Moses has come. The mediator of a new and better covenant. The nearness of God is all different for us because Christ is the greater mediator, the final mediator. He is our mediator. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus Christ who gave himself as a ransom for ALL who trust Him.