# 476 The Proverbs – ‘A manual for living’ (MSG). Proverbs 27 (1) Are you alright with not knowing?

Revealing ignorance in any subject in certain cultures seems to be something to be avoided as much as possible. I have mentioned on previous occasions of one dilemma western people sometimes face when travelling in eastern cultures, and this being from my own experience. This dilemma is understanding that when asking a question of people, it is very likely that they will give you a confident answer, whether they know the answer or not!  It is all to do with not being shamed and seeking not to shame you. But, for the westerner, this can be quite frustrating.

So, how do you feel about not knowing? Sometimes, it can be a humbling experience to reveal that you are actually quite ignorant of the subject discussed. Although, for most of us, we have probably got used to the feeling, particularly as new discoveries in science and technology progresses at lighting speed and our grandchildren are by far the experts in this field, as compared to us!

And then there is the future. Concerning this subject, we are actually all equal because as Proverbs 27:1 says:

Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.

I guess you have heard it said many times, “if I had only known…”, followed by “then I might not have…” But, of course, we don’t know!

Presently, I am in the process of writing the story of our family’s experience of living and serving in Pakistan. At this stage it is titled “Expect the Unexpected”. In the introduction I write:

“Why is this book called “Expect the Unexpected”?

In reality, our lives often consist of unexpected or unforeseen circumstances – unforeseen by us anyway, but thankfully, not by God! How often in your life can you remember planning ahead and then seeing those plans bit by bit change as other things happened that you had not expected or planned for? Maybe due to ill health, family situations, opposition, politics, weather, or any number of possible reasons. In fact, our futures are unknown (by us) and, in one sense, the only thing we really know about our lives is what has happened in the past! And hopefully it is these experiences in the past (concerning life and that in relationship to God) that teach us how to live better in the present and into the future, acknowledging that we are entirely dependent on our God who is our loving, sovereign heavenly Father.”

The Bible confirms this truth in other places, such as:

In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.  (Proverbs 16:9)

Then there are the foolish words of Israels leaders in Isaiah when they stated that:

“Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!
    Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
    or even far better.”   (Isaiah 56:12)

And the “rich fool” in Jesus’ story:

And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. ¹⁷ He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

¹⁸ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. ¹⁹ And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

²⁰ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

²¹ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”    (Luke 12:16–21)

James concludes with:

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.  (James 4:13-17)

So, we need to face the facts that concerning “tomorrow” we just do not know what will happen, but what we do know is God! And He can be trusted as He works out His eternal purposes in and through us, for the glory of His Name.

Let me finish with the words of Jeremiah 29:11

 “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

And then, Jesus, who said:

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

God, who is Love, knows and that is enough.