Moses' father-in-law gave him counsel concerning how to properly lead people and how to choose the right leaders for the nation. The leaders to be placed over the people had to be men who FEARED GOD!
Exodus 18:19-20 ESV Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, (20) and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do.
Exodus 18:21-22 ESV Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who FEAR GOD, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. (22) And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you.
If we fear anything other than God, we are being deceived from the truth of God's Word. God is the only Person, Deity, or object in the universe worthy of our fear. Of course Satan, the enemy, would disagree and has provoked man to establish a world-wide industry of generating bogus fear. His weapons are horror movies, anxieties, worries, nightmares, phobias, panic attacks, demons, ghosts, drugs, and tragic events.
In using these things as weapons of fear, the enemy, along with the world and it's fallen system, has made victims out of many Christians who are trying to survive, instead of them agreeing with the Word of God as being overcomers.
Believers are quick to agree that Satan wants the worship and praise that is due to God the Father and this is true. But Satan also wants the fear that is due to God the Father. I have been around believers who do not want me to speak about Satan or demons at all. They believe if we avoid them and don't provoke them, then they will leave us alone. Of course there has been some Pastors who have written books with this incredibly false and foolish doctrine.
We must believe as Christians that to be "in Christ" means that we have been purchased from the mastery of Satan and the demons and need not fear them any longer. Whenever it is in our power, we should cut off any access Satan has to our minds or hearts to plant bogus false fear.
F.E.A.R.=False Evidence Appearing Real!
Isaiah 8:11-13 ESV For the LORD spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: (12) “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. (13) But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.