WFTD: Know (Yadah): “If you don’t know now you know.”

Ezekiel 7:4 I will not look on you with pity; I will not spare you. I will surely repay you for your conduct and for the detestable practices among you. “’Then you will know that I am the LORD.

EXPOSITION: I know the plant pictured above is a cana lily because I see the shape, color and context (surroundings) of this beautiful plant. I saw its growth as I nurtured it, experienced it in my garden. Epistemology is the philosophy of knowing. It answers the question: How do we know what we know? In Hebrew, to know is to see. In these times of obfuscation—this fog of not knowing what to do with the derision, division, and distrust on the highways and low ways of this fair land and life—how do we know: Who’s do we follow: who’s real and whose phony? What’s true, what’s false? When to make a change, now or later? Where do we turn: left or right? Who is God?  The question of “How do we know” is not new? It was looming over God’s people in Ezekial’s cloudy days.

BACKSTORY: God has seen—not heard—the idolatry, injustice and the violence of His people. He wants them to see His judgment—Babylonian exile—on them so they will KNOW what is acceptable and not pleasing  in their relationship with him. And detestable actions against your brother will not be tolerable. Empathy will be blessed. According to Ezekiel 7: 4, “Then you will know that I am the LORD.’”

ILLUSTRATION: Knowing is seeing. So how does epistemology look like today?

Here is a story from a man who saw a frown and showed a smile in return. “I was in line at the gas station to get some fuel, just minding my own business. A young woman was in front of me, and she seemed to be taking a long time. I overheard the cashier tell her that both of her cards were declined. She asked, “Is something wrong with your machine?” Then she turned to walk away, and I happened to be smiling. She looked at me and said, “Why are you smiling?” I told her, “Watch your language; I always smile, and you should too.”

I then asked the cashier, “What pump number is she on?” He said, “Pump number two, why?” I told him, “Can I put $20 on pump two for her?” He said, “Are you serious? She was very rude to you.” Another man behind me spoke up and said, “Go ahead and fill it up—we’ll split the cost.”

When we went outside to tell her about the gas, the young woman broke down in tears and apologized repeatedly. She went to her truck and showed us her new hire paperwork. She was starting a job on Monday and just needed gas to get through the week until her first paycheck.

Lord, thank you for reminding me why I should always keep a smile on my face. This shows that we never truly know what someone is going through, and that we all have a purpose on this earth.

APPLICATION: Watch what people do— not just say—if you want to KNOW who they are; should you follow them, where they’re turning? Are they living in line with their lips? Seeing is knowing. Appreciate the beauty of the human blooms. And as the great prophet Biggie Smalls says, “If you don’t know you know.”