The Terror of God...

And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.—Genesis 35:5

Aaah...the terror of God upon those who do not seek our good.  I like that...a lot. John MacArthur describes it as 

A supernaturally induced fear of Israel that rendered the surrounding city-states unwilling and powerless to intervene and made Jacob’s fear of their retaliation rather inconsequential

Beloved...I don’t know about you, but I needed this reminder today.  He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. Our God is a protector and a preserver of all who place their trust in Him. He goes before us.  He hedges us behind and before and lays His hand upon us. This said, same terror that went before Israel as they journeyed to Canaan, goes before each of us as we walk in His will and depend on Him to meet all our needs.  As someone (I don’t know who) has said, “if we fear God, we need not fear anything else”.   

Fear and dread will fall on them;

By the greatness of Your arm

They will be as still as a stone,

Till Your people pass over, O LORD,

Till the people pass over

Whom You have purchased.—Exodus 15:16

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?

My help comes from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth, and even forevermore.—Psalm 121

The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

A refuge in times of trouble.

10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;

For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.—Psalm 9:9-10