Fear of Fire
Two twelve-year-old boys[1] jostled a cardboard box of chemicals down a steep hill and set up their “lab” on a cold deserted beach. Their experiment was to see what happened when they ignited a concoction of charcoal powder, sulfur, potassium nitrate, potassium chlorate, zinc and magnesium powders poured into a thick-walled porcelain mortar.
The flame of the lit match neared the silver-black pile of chemicals. Instantaneously a column of white-hot flame rocketed up from the mortar. The sudden heat split the mortar in two and caused the kneeling boys to fall back onto the sand.
After regaining their balance, a panicked inventory of their clothing and facial hair confirmed they were unscathed despite the conflagration. Slowly, their wild-eyed panic gave way to knowing, embarrassed grins – they had escaped a disaster of their own making.
The carefree atmosphere of their descent to the beach was replaced with awe. The box they jostled on the way down was handled gingerly on the way back up. The boys would be much more circumspect in future experiments.
The almost-tragic experiment taught these young “chemists” an indispensable lesson: not fearing the right things can be catastrophic. Or, stated in the affirmative: fearing the right things is essential for one’s health! This is the same lesson my ancestors learned through their experience with fire at Mount Sinai.
Fifty days after exiting Egypt, my people stood at the base of Mount Sinai,[2] the top of which was engulfed in flames signaling God’s presence. From the flames God Himself spoke the Ten Commandments directly to the people. Overcome with fear, looking up transfixed, trembling and shaken by deafening thunder, blinding flashes of lightning, billowing smoke and the blaring of an unseen trumpet, the people cried out in fear, “…do not have God speak to us or we will die[3]!”
Just then Moses delivered the life lesson Israel desperately needed as they entered into covenant relationship with God, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” A right fear of God would guard against sin and set His people on the path of a long and healthy life in the Land.
The things we fear impact our behavior. Fear of what others think can lead to doing what pleases people rather than God. Fear of failure can lead to lying to protect our reputation. Fear of want can lead to meeting our needs through theft and dishonesty. Ironically, fear of the wrong thing fails to provide the protection it promises. But not so with the fear of God.
Just as the young chemists chronicled above learned to fear the right fire, so too God wants you and me to fear Him. God did not come down in fire at Mount Sinai to bully my ancestors into submission. He came to illustrate His worthiness and the significance of fearing Him, the right “fire.”
When we see God for who He is we find grace to please Him even when it means disappointing others. To tell the truth even at great risk. We can trust Him to meet our needs as we act with honesty…even in the scariest circumstances.
Seeing who God is and choosing to trust Him is the best protection against the false “fires” fueled by sinful unbelief.
Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments.[4]
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.[5]
Written by Dan Strull, Board Chair
1) What “fires” are you fearing?
2) What “fires” do you need to entrust God?
Endnotes:
[1] Names withheld to protect the author’s reputation.
[2] The Feast of Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks or Pentecost, takes place 50 days following Pesach (Passover), and celebrates the first of the grain harvests. According to tradition, on this day God gave the Torah to Israel as they entered into covenant relationship with God.
[3] Exodus 20:19
[4] Psalm 112:1 (NASB95).
[5] 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NASB95).