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January 18, 2023
Daily Reading – Genesis 35 – 37 / Matthew 12:1-37

GOD’S WORD:

Genesis 35:5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

I am not a Hebrew Scholar. I normally do not refer to original languages to make an argument for what scripture says. I am not opposed to those who do, but I have found the Bible in our English language usually defines itself very well. That being said, the original word for “terror” in Genesis 35:5 is only found once in this form in all of scripture. It means a terrified fear of God.

Jacob had said in Chapter 34, that he was afraid the people of the land would desire to kill him for what his son’s had done to Shechem and his city. They very well may have, except Jacob’s family has now given themselves exclusively to the one true God. Genesis 35:4 says they tossed out all their strange Gods. Now the fear Jacob once had, was upon them who might otherwise have done harm to him. It was their fear of Jacobs God that kept them from touching this caravan as they traveled through the land. Psalms 105 tells of this occasion. Psalm 105:14 & 15 “He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.“

God is still watching over His own. It says in Hebrews 13:5-6 “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” There is no terror if you are right with God.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

The terror of God in today’s text was a fear of God. For the saints however, we do not need to be terrified of God, but we do need to have a holy fear towards God. This fear is a respect for, and a reverence of who God is in us.

What type of fear do you have with God?