A cop on patrol by himself watchess for one of two types of people, those that have the right kind of fear, and those that are too "laid back" fearing nothing. The former is much more likely to cooperate, gets more warning citations depending on driving record. The fearless are much more likely to be a pest, refusing to acknowledge anything the cop wants to talk about. His fearlessness is simple disrespect without repentance. Blind fearlessness shows in actions like passing a patrol car over the speed limit, a flaunting if independence of right v. wrong.
I've lost count of the "fear not" incidents in the Bible. Jesus told disciples that many times. God said to Abram in Genesis 15:1 (KJV) [SUP]1 [/SUP] After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
The two Hebrew words mean "must not" + you are fearing"
God doesn't want us cowering terrorized in his presence, but wanting to get on our face out of awe. God resumed with a comfort and a promise, to be Abram's protecter/covering, and Abram's great reward. Abram then understood God was there to make an offer instead of harm him. Boldness arose in Abram, asking God what he would give him. That's God offering relationship, friendship, not tyranny. The fear God wants is due to him as Creator, Lord, all powerful God that has no peers. He wants us coming into his room with boldness, thanksgiving, praise, worship, adoration, trust, faith believing every word.
Many people ignore the presence of God, walk on by, show no interest. They are the ones that need to at least have a dreadful fear of God, as he will not be mocked. Once they learn the consequences of that attitude, they can move on to the friendship level of proper fear towards God.
Later Abraham was in Egypt when he fell into carnal fear of men in Genesis 20:11 (KJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.
He didn't rest on God his shield, but let Abimelech have Sarah his beloved wife. He believed there was no fear of God in the area, that the Egyptians would kill Abraham to get her. Sometimes there is in fact some moral fear, but it doesn't show. Abraham didn't know God had paid the king a visit in Genesis 20:3 (KJV) [SUP]3 [/SUP] But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
That visit put both kinds of fear in the king. The negative kind of fear is like that of
Matthew 10:28 (KJV) [SUP]28 [/SUP] And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
"Fearful" people run away from God out of dread and terror, while the righteous know to run to God out of awe and holy adoration, though sometimes having to be stood back on our feet in his presence. Those with no fear of God are in profound ignorance unto rebellion against God and man. It might never occur to them the God wouldn't give the slightest thought to destroying a child of God in hell, while he knows the fearful will.
Christians ought not fall into fearfulness, as many people do to their own destruction.
Revelation 21:8 (KJV)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
