The "Enhanced Strong's Lexicon" indicates that the word often translated as "fear" means "to fear, reverence, honour, respect" and "to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe". And what is the intended end result of all this reverence and godly fear for the One True God? "That you may not sin".
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We generally start reciting the Ten Commandments beginning with verse 3,"You shall have no other gods before Me." But it might prove to have a greater impact on our life and behavior if we began each commanment with the overall preface provided in verse 2, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery". This is the context in which we should hold His commandments. They proceed from His sovereignty and grace.
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What is the change God intends for those coming to a personal knowledge and relationship with Him? You no longer belong to this world ("you shall be My own possession") and you no longer worship the things of this world ("you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests"). From the beginning, the goal of God's plan of salvation has been to change our identity and service.
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There are some people who believe that just as you need to go to a professional for legal or medical advice, you need to go to a "religious" professional for spiritual advice. It's a belief rooted in the notion that only a scholar or "professionally trained" person has the ability to interpret and apply God's Word. Surprisingly, this notion is often found among modern-day Jews who leave Scripture up to the rabbi. I say "surprisingly", because this was not a belief adhered to by Moses.
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Compare and contrast the difference between Pharaoh—the eyewitness of everything that took place—and Jethro, someone merely hearing about them. Although Pharaoh witnessed and lived through and was even the direct object of these events, he never listened and his hardened heart never allowed him to be changed or to accept God's message. Because Jethro's heart and ears are open and leaning towards God to begin with, he is transformed and confesses, "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the gods".
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What a tremendous picture of what it takes for the church to overcome and win spiritual battles! In the example of Moses, Aaron, Hur, Joshua and the fighters we are provided with an illustration of what it takes to overcome our spiritual enemy. Some are needed to engage in the battle, some to lead that battle, and others to support them through prayer and intercession on their behalf.
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The picture here is everyone going out each day to gather the manna, bringing it back to a central place, and then doling it out to each person as they need it, an omer at a time. Everyone worked to varying degrees—some gathered more, some less—but everyone received what they needed. It's a teaching that the same grace is in all, that everyone alike has an equal interest in Christ. Although some have sinned more or less than others, although our needs vary widely from one person to the next, we are all equally redeemed by His blood, justified by His righteousness, forgiven to all take part in the inheritance of His eternal kingdom.
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