The Fear of Isaac

This expression, the Fear of Isaac, appears in Genesis 31 vv.42 and 53. As Jacob is justifying himself to Laban, after he has stolen away with Laban's daughters and grand-children without telling him he was leaving, he says,

"Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night."

Later he swears an oath "by the Fear of his father Isaac." [53]

What does he mean here? "The Fear" can only refer to the God of Isaac. But it has so much meaning! Fear of God, reverence, awe, godliness, also describes the characteristic attitude of his father Isaac. This fear made Isaac a man who could marry a woman he had never met based on the testimony of his father's servant. He could live in a foreign land, with enemies all around him confiscating his wells, each time moving on and simply trusting God to provide, and digging another. At the end of this struggle with his neighbors, Isaac was receiving kings at his tent with their hats in their hands.

My study this week is from Eph 5:21 - 6:9. This passage begins with,

Submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. It won't get me a Ph.D. or a bigger salary or any other worldly recognition. But it made Isaac a truly great man. The fear of God teaches us to submit to God and to one another. The fear of God enables us to "do good to those who hate us", like Isaac. This submission, contrary to appearances, raises us above others spiritually. The fear of God makes us like Jesus, and is the key attitude to the imitation of Christ. I believe it is also the secret of true happiness, as it was the basic attitude of Adam and Eve before the Fall. It is what enables a wife to submit to her husband, husbands to love their wives, children to obey their parents, and employers and employees, even slaves, to be happy and prosperous. [Eph 5:21-6:9]

Submit is a dirty word to most Americans. But, Father, help me to learn this attitude of Christ, who "made himself of no reputation". [Phil 2:7] Lord, I want to "become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation". I want to "shine like the stars" with your light. Please take me and change me today, more like Jesus, in submission to You, God, and to others in the fear of God.