Feeding Trough

Fear the LORD, but not given a spirit of fear?

¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

But

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)

The first time any form of fear is mentioned in the Bible is in Genesis after Adam sinned and God asked where he was.

¹⁰ He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10)

⁷ You, even You, are to be feared;
And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? (Psalm 76:7)

¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

As we now know, it was not a serpent that deceived the woman, it was the devil. And when God sent Moses to Egypt, it was to execute judgment on their gods as well.

¹² For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the LORD. (Exodus 12:12)

Because,

²⁰ No, but I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. (1 Corinthians 10:20)

So, the beginning is fear of God, but

¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (1 John 4:18)

References

Proverbs 9:10

2 Timothy 1:7

Genesis 3:10

Psalm 76:7

Ephesians 6:12

Exodus 12:12

1 Corinthians 10:20

1 John 4:18

Acts 18:13-17