Fearing God is one of those phrases we see a lot in scripture but aren’t really sure what it means practically. So I took notice when I read that two women named in chapter one of the book of Exodus—Shiphrah and Puah—feared the Lord. They show us what it looks like and what happens when we do. Here’s their story:

¹⁵ The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, ¹⁶  “When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the delivery: If it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she may live.” ¹⁷ But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live … ²⁰ So God treated the midwives well, and the people multiplied and became very strong. ²¹ And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them.

Exodus 2:15–17; 20–21 (emphasis mine)

Consider that disobeying the king (Pharaoh) meant defying the “god of Egypt” and possible death. But Shiphrah and Puah feared the Creator God, Elohim, (Gen 2:7) more than the “son of Ra.” They knew that God detests the shedding of innocent blood (Gen 9:5–6; Pr 6:16–17) so they risked their lives to do what was right.

Encounters with holy God in scripture often invoke terror in the recipient, immediately followed by the reassurance, “Do not be afraid.” So which is it? How can we fear God and yet not be afraid?

“To fear” is the Hebrew word yare and means both “to be afraid” and “to revere, honor, respect, stand in awe of.”¹ But it is not an attitude of anxiety and cowering because we think God will punish us (Rom 8:1; 1 Jn 4:17–18). Rather than being afraid of God, we are drawn to him in awe because of his might, goodness, and love.

Afterward the Israelites will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the Lord and to his blessings in the last days.

They shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and all the prosperity that I provide for it.

Hos 3:5; Jer 33:9 NKJV

For Shiphrah and Puah, fearing God meant trusting their fate to a good and holy God rather than to an evil man. But other scriptures reveal a more complete picture:

• Therefore, fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship the Lord. Josh 24:14 csb
• Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. Ps 86:11
• Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water. Rev 14:7
• And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. Ex 14:31
• Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Heb 12:28 nkjv
• Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. Pr 3:7
• The LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Ps 147:11 niv
• [Hanani] was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. Neh 7:2 niv
• So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Cor‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬ ‭csb
• Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! Acts 5:29

From these verses we learn that fearing God means to worship only him—wholeheartedly—and give him glory. To believe and trust in him, to obey his truth rather than our own wisdom. To put our hope in his hesed love, and serve him with faithfulness and reverence. It means to live a life of integrity, shun evil, and holiness. Basically fearing God means to trust ourselves his goodness and might rather than any human.

Like he did for Shiphrah and Puah, God blesses those who fear him. “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands” (Ps 112:1).

• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Pr 1:7 (Pr 2:1–5)
• His mercy extends to those who fear him from generation to generation. Lk 1:50
• Moses said to the people, “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.” Ex 20:20 (also Pr 8:13; 16:6; 23:17)
• The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life. Pr 22:4 rsv
• The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Pr 10:27 (also Pr 14:27; 19:23)
• Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. Pr 14:26
• Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers. Acts 9:31

In case of the midwives, God gave them families of their own (Ex 1:21). But when we fear God, he gives us wisdom, mercy, the ability to avoid sin, and honor. He preserves our lives, protects us, and increases our numbers.

I may never find myself in the same situation as Shiphrah and Puah but I am faced with opportunities to fear God every day. I can continue to worship him with my complete devotion, follow his commands, serve him, and choose to what’s right because his greatness, love, and goodness draw me to him above that of any earthly human. 

How is your life demonstrating that you fear the Lord? What blessings have you experienced because you fear the Lord?

PRAYER

“Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Ps 86:11).

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1. “H3372 – yārē’ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (net).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 11 Jan, 2025. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3372/net/wlc/0-1/ ↩︎

All scripture is in the New International Version unless otherwise noted with emphasis added.

See also https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/what-is-the-fear-of-god; https://soniclight.com/tcon/notes/html/exodus/exodus.htm#head15; https://truerichesacademy.com/the-fear-of-the-lord/