“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This is something of a motto in the wisdom literature of the Bible.

But what does it mean that fearing God is the “beginning” of wisdom?  Is the fear of God just a place to start?  Is it just a beginning stage that you eventually grow out of and then move on to other things as your wisdom matures? 

And what does it mean to “fear” God anyway?  How do we define this fear?  Stark terror?  Cringing?  Wincing?  Keeping him at arm’s length because you’re always apprehensive, nervous, and suspicious in his presence?

Let’s treat the second question first.

In Genesis 22.12 Abraham is specifically commended for his fear of the Lord…

“Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.”

Ah–ha!  So, here we have it!  Whatever the “good” fear of the Lord is supposed to mean, we find it right here in this story.  So, what are the ingredients to a healthy, biblical fear of God?

• Abraham loved God more than anything. We’re told in the first two verses of Genesis 22 that Abraham LOVED his son Isaac.  But that which was most precious to him, he was willing to give up… because he loved God more.

• Abraham obeyed God. God himself calls attention to Abraham’s obedience in verse 18.  “… in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

• Abraham trusted God. When the author of Hebrews reflects on this episode in Abraham’s life (Hebrews 11.17–19), he says that Abraham did what he did “by faith.” God had made promises that could only come true through Isaac.  God will keep his promises.  Therefore, God must plan to bring Isaac back from the dead.  Such were the instincts of Abraham.  He trusted in God’s provision.

And indeed, that’s what the story says…

“So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The Lord will provide’; as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’”

The whole scene is actually a picture of another day that would come years and years in the future when the Father’s Son was sacrificed.  The knife wasn’t held back.  It was plunged in… so that we might know that we could be forgiven.  This is God’s “provision” for us, to save us from the bondage of sin, shame, guilt, and death.

So, there you have the ingredients of “the fear of the Lord”… love, obedience, and trust.

But what of our first question?  What does it mean that these things make up the “beginning” of all wisdom?  Is this just the beginning stage of wisdom that we eventually move beyond?

No.

This is the “beginning” of all wisdom in the sense that it is the “first and controlling principle” of all wisdom.  Fear God.  Love him above all else.  Obey him no matter what.  Trust him to provide everything that is needed. 

These things are ALWAYS the beginning of wisdom.  Fear God.  This is the only authentic and real response to who God is.