A New Look at Fear

First written Last updated Last viewed Times read 51,542

The fear of Yahweh is realizing that God has power over all things, including us, and giving Him the reverence He alone deserves. "The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" (Proverbs 9:10).

Yahweh (Hebrew יהוה, YHWH) is the Name God revealed to His people. It comes from the Hebrew root meaning "to be." Its short form, Yah, is heard in HalleluYah, "Praise Yah!" See a dream about Yahweh's Name.

Fear is one of the most powerful emotions known to mankind. And yet is also perhaps one of the most misunderstood.

Fear, when focused upon the right object, brings eternal life. Fear, when understood and embraced correctly, brings knowledge and wisdom (Job 28:28).

7The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

It can be one of the purest things known in this life.

9The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh’s ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. Psalms 19:9

The English word "fear" comes from the Hebrew word ירה. In Hebrew, words are made up of letters, which each have their own meanings and values.

י means "hand." The hand in Hebrew thought often stood for both power and authority. ר means "head," "intellect" or even "foundation" in terms of the head directing the body. ה means "window" or even "revelation" (as an entry point).

So we see, in full, the Hebrew concept of fear is nothing more than: power over intellect through an entry point, or the revelation of power bringing mindsets.

Fear is realizing that something has the ability to affect you, which produces a reaction in you.

Beginning with this understanding, we can come to overcome fear of those things that do not deserve our attention; and in their place, we can put Yahweh, Who rightly should be feared. Ultimately, God has power over all things, and without His will not one thing happens.

14I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him. Ecclesiastes 3:14

13Who has directed Yahweh’s Spirit, or has taught him as his counselor? 14Who did he take counsel with, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? 15Behold, the nations are like a drop in a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on a balance. Behold, he lifts up the islands like a very little thing. Isaiah 40:13-15

29“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will, 30but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

Therefore the many natural things in this world that make us fearful should be cast aside as we see Yahweh behind all things, able to deliver us as call to Him in faith. send your cares to Yahweh

25The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe. Proverbs 29:25

Directly Related

Possibly Related

Email the Author Write about this page

Open to load the form, or write from the contact page.

The Good Message

As you read this site, you will hopefully come to know Yahweh more fully.

But all of this continuing knowledge is useless unless and until you come into union with Him. I use the word union because it is truly a marriage. It is that deep connection we all seek, for which we most often look in other people. However, the truth is that our hearts will only be fulfilled when we enter that union in fullness with the One Who made us.

This is the grace of God, that He has not stayed distant for us only to worship as Creator. But He has come unto us, even become one of us—in His Son, Christ Jesus—in order to share an intimate union with us. He desires such closeness that it truly will envelope our entire life, transforming us into something new and wonderful.

You may have already entered this union with Him and only seek to know Him better through reading here. But if you have not, as you do read, let this Gospel sink into your heart as you read it now.

God loves you, and has cast your sins into the sea. He has sent His only Son as the Savior of the world—that includes you.

That Son, Jesus Christ, was born as a man through a virgin who had given her life to Yahweh; He lived without sin, reflected the glory of His Father, God, in all His words and deeds, and was persecuted even unto death because of it.

His death upon a cross was the powerful explosion that separated you from your life of death. It remains for you, now, to enter into that death with Him. As you die to the one you are now, a person separated from God from your many sins, you will be born anew, with a nature predisposed to live rightly. This gift is free to you, with nothing you can do to earn it. It is the mercy of God to offer it to you, as He loves you so much! All you must do is receive it by trusting Him to have delivered you. Simply place your life in His hands and embrace the freedom that came through that death on the cross.

The Gospel is that Jesus did not remain dead, but rose again on the third day after His crucifixion! Death could not hold Him, as He was without sin. And so death will not be able to hold you, as you identify with Him fully through your trust in Him. Let go of yourself and confess Him as Lord of your life. The power of His death and resurrection will work in you all that your Creator has destined for you. You will truly enter a new life and experience that intimate union you have been seeking all of your life.

So ponder these words as you read here of this great God—Yahweh—and all that He has revealed to His creation. Let His Spirit testify to your heart that these words are true, that God is Love, and that He sent His Son so that you might receive the life that is unbound by time and space. As you feel that witness in your heart, simply believe and receive what He is offering to you, even now, and begin your new life as a child of God.

Please write to me and let me know when you take this step, as I will be your brother in Christ—we will be one in Him!