The Adventures of Mole and Rat

Sometimes children’s literature is the best place to turn when we want to gain a better understanding of those eternal truths, which can be at times difficult to explain. This is particularly true when it comes to explaining to people what we mean by “the fear of the Lord.” Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (NIV). As we all know, this is not a fear of terror, but an awe-filled fear that causes us to bow in adoration before the presence of the Lord. Kenneth Grahamne captures a way of describing this fear in his children’s classic entitled The Wind in the Willows. In the presence of holiness, the two main characters in the story, Mole and Rat, experience the following:

The Rat whispered, “’Here, in this holy place, here if anywhere, surely we shall find Him!’ Then suddenly the Mole felt a great Awe fall upon him, an awe that turned his muscles to water, bowed his head, and rooted his feet to the ground. It was no panic terror – indeed he felt wonderfully at peace and happy – but it was an awe that smote and held him and, without seeing, he knew that it could only mean that some august Presence was very, very near…‘Rat!’ he found breath to whisper, shaking. “Are you afraid?’ ‘Afraid?’ murmured the Rat, his eyes shining with unutterable love. ‘Afraid! Of Him? O, never, never! And yet – and yet – O, Mole, I am afraid!’ Then the two animals, crouching to the earth, bowed their heads and did worship.”

This story allows us to feel the sense of awe, the sense of mystery – indeed, the overwhelming sense of respect – that standing in the Presence of God affords us. In His presence there is joy! In His Presence there is peace! And also, in His Presence there is fear – not fear that says, “Run!” but a fear that says, “Stay – and, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10, NIV). With such fear, there is no question that we will be changed, for how could we do otherwise?