“Surely The Fear Of God Is Not In This Place”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles on Fearing GodThrough a study of the Scriptures, we see that the fear of God has a restraining effect upon the lives of godly men and women (Genesis 39:7-12), but is found absent in a calloused, deluded, unbelieving and godless society (Romans 3:10-12; cf. Psalm 14:1-3).
We find this to be so in the book of Genesis with regard to Abraham and his wife Sarah (Genesis 20). As we recall, they had migrated to Canaan at God’s bidding (Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:8) and were living in the midst of a heathen people. Since Sarah was very beautiful, Abraham was sorely afraid that some other man might kill him in order to possess her.
Sarah obviously agreed to be passed off as Abraham’s sister, which was only a half-truth. Next, we see the Canaanite Abimelech, intensely desiring Sarah. Thankfully, God intervened (Genesis 20:3). Abimelech was very displeased with Abraham when he learned what he had done.
In trying to explain the situation to him, Abraham said, “Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me on account of my wife” (Genesis 20:11; cf. Psalm 36:1; Proverbs 16:6).
In his discourse to the Roman brethren, Paul describes a similar godless society, without any fear of God (Romans 3:10-18).
Note Paul’s ending observation of the society of his day:
“There is no fear of God before their eyes” (Romans 3:18; cf. Psalm 36:1).
Is the above statement true of our 21st Century society?
Along with Abraham, can we say that “Surely the fear of God is not in this place?”
You be the judge.
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