Why My God Is Awesome: The Biblical Meaning of Awe
Summary
Calling God awesome means more than expressing enthusiasm. Biblical awe recognizes His overwhelming power, holiness, authority, justice, and astonishing love. A personal encounter with lightning illustrates the fear and wonder such greatness inspires. Scripture presents awe as a response to God’s presence and works. Remembering His greatness encourages courage in the face of opposition and calls us to obedience, love, praise, and reverence, not merely casual admiration, but a life lived in awe.
Beyond Everyday “Awesome”
We use “awesome” for things that please us, but what about God is awesome? We say Junior getting a hit in a baseball game is awesome. Mary pulling up her grade from a C to a B is awesome. The sandwich someone ate at the restaurant was awesome. These everyday uses express enthusiasm, but they don't capture the impact this word conveys when applied to God.
Recovering the Weight of Awe
When we use “awesome” for everything merely good or wonderful, the word loses its power to express genuine awe. It is as though we are stripping away the bark that sustains an ancient tree. God’s greatness doesn’t suffer, but our ability to give it the weight it deserves does.
Awe, Fear, and God’s Goodness
The history of “awe” includes the meaning “terror.”1 That history helps us sense the weight of “awesome,” though it does not by itself explain the word’s meaning in Scripture. When applied to God, awe involves fear and reverence, not merely enthusiasm. C. S. Lewis captures this combination when Mr. Beaver describes Aslan, a Christ figure, as not safe but good. God’s goodness does not diminish His overwhelming power. Mountains tremble before Him (Isaiah 64:3).
A Lightning Encounter with Power
While I was in college, I was traveling on a country road when lightning struck something directly above the car. The almost deafening sharp crack and otherworldly brightness made me flinch. In that instant, I encountered power I couldn’t comprehend. It was terrifying and awesome. That experience helps me understand why Scripture’s descriptions of God call forth fear and reverence rather than casual admiration.
Encounters with Awe in Scripture
In Scripture, awe marks encounters with God, worship of His holiness, and recognition of His works. Jacob called the place where he met God awesome (Genesis 28:17). Moses and the Israelites used the word in their song to the Lord to describe His glory and holiness (Exodus 15:11). The Lord also used it to describe the wondrous works He performed for Israel (Exodus 34:10, Deuteronomy 4:34). These examples give the word a weight that everyday praise cannot carry.
Courage Through God’s Greatness
For Israel, the God in their midst, not the nations they were to drive out, was the One to fear (Deuteronomy 7:21). Nehemiah’s prayer calls God great and awesome and acknowledges His covenant love (Nehemiah 1:5). Remembering that greatness and faithfulness gives us reason to face those who oppose us with courage rather than let fear of them govern us.
My God Is Awesome
God is the great King over all the earth, with ultimate authority (Psalm 47:2). His majesty and deeds are awesome (Job 37:22, Psalm 65:5), and His purposes uphold truth, humility, and justice (Psalm 45:4). Awe acknowledges both His power and His character. We cannot bribe or control the God of gods and Lord of lords (Deuteronomy 10:17).
Awesome in Power, Love, and Judgment
God’s awesomeness is not confined to displays of terrifying power. He is awesome in His sanctuary (Psalm 68:35) and in His power to accomplish His will (Jeremiah 32:17). His astonishing love also creates wonder (1 John 3:1). That awe will extend to distant nations when He destroys all the earth’s gods. These nations will worship Him (Zephaniah 2:11). His power, love, and judgment belong to the same awesome God.
Living in Awe of God
Calling God awesome is more than offering Him a compliment. His greatness calls us to obey Him and love Him, to fear Him (Psalm 89:7), and to praise Him (Psalm 99:3). We are to revere His glorious, awesome name (Deuteronomy 28:58, Nehemiah 1:5). Awesome regains its weight when we move beyond saying “awesome” to living in awe of Him.
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