Posted in The Christian Life

I caught something today in Hosea 4. Verse 6 says, "My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge..." Now, how many times do we hear people (I think I've even said it) say that this says that we need to know as much as possible about any sort of plan, because we're doomed to fail if we don't know what is or has gone on.

That's not what this passage is about. The context is tied up in judgment of Israel for their sins, and specifically here for the sin of the priests. This is a statement to the priests, who have refused to teach the people about God and His ways, that they too will be taken down when God deals with Israel. Verse 1 says God has a legal complaint against Israel on a number of counts, one being that there is no knowledge of God in the land. Having told the people several generations earlier to "teach their children" His ways, to remind them constantly of His precepts, to tell them how He brought them out of Egypt and out of the wilderness -- here God brings this transgression of His own command before them, and then lays out the judgment.

Interesting. So our kids "are destroyed for a lack of knowledge" about God! I don't know what that says to you, but it tells me that my little one is right where she belongs, learning about God, His ways, and His love for her every day -- not just on Sunday. It also tells me that I need to keep it up, even ramp it up; last thing I'd want is for her to not remember Him and then be chastised by Him all because of my failings.

It also tells me what kind of knowledge is important. Not just sucking up every bit of news that comes on, researching any other topic to the Nth degree, reading just to be reading (though all of those have their appropriate place, and for a limited amount of time) -- my desire for knowledge should be centered on learning more about Him.

That's my thought for the day.