Fear God, Not Humans || Proverbs 29:25 || Manna for the Mind #117

Welcome to Day 117 of the “Manna for the Mind” devotional! This series is about taking scripture passages (typically 1-3 verses) and building our understanding of their teachings through their context and connecting scripture. I believe that doing this helps us understand how to be the type of human that God created us to be.

Our passage today is Proverbs 29:25, where our discussion will lead us down the differences between fearing another human and trusting God.

Proverbs 29:25

AMP	NLT	MSG
25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in and puts his confidence in the Lord will be exalted  and safe.	25 Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.	25 The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.

Fearing other humans can hamper everything we try to do. In extreme forms, it can make us afraid to leave home, talk to someone, leave an abusive relationship, and more. On the contrary, trusting God, which again means to respect, revere, and trust in him, is freedom. It’s important to understand that fear can lead to paralysis while trusting in our Heavenly Father, who can turn the harm intended by others into God.

Fearing God is a historical theological concept that came from understanding what God can do toward unbelievers and the apprehension of what is happening to us. Still, it’s not out of anger that God does this. God wants and encourages us to be in a right relationship with him so that we can spend our earthly and eternal lives with him. Those who don’t will face their own reality from intentional disbelief and refusal to follow God. Now, the unbelievers won’t gain entrance to heaven and will find their place in the underground and grave. The perception of hell is still something that I’m working through right now (see my latest series, “What the…”?), but for now, we can define it as the pure opposite of heaven. Those who trust in God won’t face the reality that’s the total opposite of heaven. Trusting in God provides us the freedom to please other humans. It allows us to live a life that honors and glorifies God.

One of those people in the Bible who trusted God outright and feared others at times is Abraham (Abram at this time in Genesis).

Genesis 12:11-13:

AMP	NLT	MSG
11 As he was approaching the border of Egypt, Abram said to his wife, Sarai, “Look, you are a very beautiful woman.	11 And when he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “Listen: I know that you are a beautiful woman	11-13 As he drew near to Egypt, he said to his wife, Sarai, “Look. We both know that you’re a beautiful woman. When the Egyptians see you they’re going to say, ‘Aha! That’s his wife!’ and kill me. But they’ll let you live. Do me a favor: tell them you’re my sister. Because of you, they’ll welcome me and let me live.”
12 When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife. Let’s kill him; then we can have her!’	12 so when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me [to acquire you], but they will let you live.
13 So please tell them you are my sister. Then they will spare my life and treat me well because of their interest in you.”	13 Please tell them that you are my sister so that things will go well for me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.”

Abram, acting out of fear, asks Sarai (Sarah, better known later on) to tell a half-truth by saying she is his sister. She was his half-sister and wife – a practice considered acceptable then. Abram’s intent was to deceive the Egyptians. He feared that if they knew the truth, they would kill him to get Sarai because she would have been a great addition to Pharaoh’s harem due to her wealth, beauty, and potential for political alliance. Abram saw two realities before him, both influenced by the cultural norms and power dynamics of the time:

• As Sarai’s brother, he would have been given a place of honor.
• As Sarai’s husband, he would be in danger because she couldn’t enter Pharaoh’s harem unless Abram was dead.

Abram lost faith in God’s protection and told a half-truth, even after all God had promised him. This shows how lying compounds the effects of sin. When Abram lied, his problems multiplied. This is the message we can walk away with. Don’t doubt God after hearing the promises that he gave you. The response of people is not something you can control, but being truthful and following the will of God will help us overcome any response that people will have. People will treat us differently, and we will lead our words and actions in a godly lifestyle, some positive and some negative. Still, God will teach us how to manage those situations with a healthy mindset. Let us not live our lives to please people but to trust God. Abram’s fear led him to lie, and this lie caused him more trouble than he anticipated. This is a clear example of how fear can lead us astray and how trust in God can guide us to the right path.

Father God, we thank you for the trust we can have in you. We learn you are a god of compassion, grace, and mercy, not the war-torn, aggressive hero people describe you as. We ask you for the confidence to continue trusting you and to know that our value isn’t found in pleasing people. Our trust and faith in you will lead us to success, happiness, and eternity. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen.