Getting the Look

God is merciful, so does that mean we should not fear Him?

Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but do not see, who have ears, but do not hear. Do you not fear me? says the LORD; Do you not tremble before me?  - Jeremiah 5:21-22

In today's reading from Jeremiah, the prophet calls us to fear God.

I look around at all the cruelty in the world and wonder where does our fear originate.  Is it in the works of God or the works of man?

From hit and run drivers to ex-cops who commit murder suicides in their homes, it seems we are the enemy, we are the source of our own fear.

It would be nice if all we had to fear was God.  He at least is a merciful, loving God who accepts us as we are, who calls us home and gives us a second chance.

When He looks around at the world, what does He see?

Perhaps as in the days of Moses, a lone prophet can stand before God and make a case for the rest of us.  We know that works.  It holds back the sea, keeps the flood waters at bay, shields us from the possible wrath of an angry God who has lost patience with us.

When I was young, it didn't take much more than a look from my father to get me back in line.  And it wasn't that I was afraid I would be punished.  What I feared was having my father be disappointed in me.

Why don't we feel that way about God?

If we could look on God as our father who has unbounded love for us, would we want to disappoint Him?

When Jeremiah talks about our foolishness, we hear the word fear.  But what is he really trying to tell us?

I think the message is we need to get back to loving God.  And we need to love Him so much, we hurt when we hurt Him.

Can we do that?

We can try.

More to come...

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