Running wild ∙∙

Running wild ∙∙

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. – Proverbs 29:18

Exodus 32:19-35

9 When they came near the camp, Moses saw the calf and the dancing, and he burned with anger. He threw the stone tablets to the ground, smashing them at the foot of the mountain.
20 He took the calf they had made and burned it. Then he ground it into powder, threw it into the water, and forced the people to drink it.
21 Finally, he turned to Aaron and demanded, “What did these people do to you to make you bring such terrible sin upon them?”

24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has gold jewelry, take it off.’ When they brought it to me, I simply threw it into the fire – and out came this calf!”
25 Moses saw that Aaron had let the people get completely out of control, much to the amusement of their enemies.

30 The next day, Moses said to the people, “You have committed a terrible sin, but I will go back up to the LORD on the mountain. Perhaps I will be able to obtain forgiveness for your sin.”

35 Then the LORD sent a great plague upon the people because they had worshiped the calf Aaron had made.

Throughout history, humanity has sought to understand the world and its mysteries through three primary methods of gaining knowledge: empiricism (experience), rationalism (thinking), and divine revelation.

Empiricism, the foundation of modern science, holds that knowledge is acquired through sensory experience. Through observation, experimentation, and perception, we learn about the physical world. It is practical, measurable, and rooted in what we can see, hear, and touch.

Rationalism, on the other hand, bases knowledge on logic, thought, and reflection. Where empiricism draws from the external, rationalism emerges from within—our capacity for reason and contemplation. It is through rationalism that humanity develops philosophies, mathematical principles, and frameworks too abstract to rely solely on observation.

Significant advancements have come from these methods. The scientific revolution and the development of technology exist because of a balance between experience and reasoning. Yet, for all their power, both empiricism and rationalism share a critical flaw—they are inherently limited human abilities. Our senses are fallible, and our intellect is finite. There are questions empiricism cannot observe, and rationalism cannot answer. Could it be that there is information that exists apart from human experience and reflection?

Yes, this is where divine revelation stands apart. Revelation asserts that there is a source of knowledge and truth beyond human discovery—knowledge directly revealed by God. When we meet the Father and enter into a personal relationship with Him, a whole new source of learning and understanding opens up to us that we cannot access otherwise. Through His Word—the Scriptures—we are given answers to the most profound questions of life and existence.

The Father exists apart and separate from the limited reality of people. Human capabilities are finite; the Father has no such limitation. Much of what man has “discovered” was actually revealed in the Scriptures thousands of years ago.

For instance, long before modern cosmology concluded that the universe is not eternal but had a beginning, the Scriptures declared that “in the beginning,” God created it.” What scientists now theorize as the “Big Bang” was already described in Genesis.

Beyond scientific truths, the Bible provides unparalleled insight into the most pressing philosophical questions. Is there a God? What is God like? Why does evil exist? Why do we suffer? What is humanity’s purpose? What happens after death? Why did the Lord Jesus Christ sacrifice Himself, and what does His resurrection mean for us? What does the future hold, and how does history end? These are questions empiricism cannot test, and rationalism cannot resolve.

Biblical revelation provides information that we cannot know in any other way.

Yet, in the modern scientific age, many dismiss divine revelation as a source of knowledge and often reject the very existence of God. For those who deny God’s reality, revelation is deemed irrelevant or impossible. They cling to the belief that knowledge must remain confined to what is observable or internally reasoned.

This rejection of revelation is not a neutral act; it carries profound consequences. When humanity distances itself from the truth of God, it becomes untethered and vulnerable to deception, confusion, and despair. The Scriptures themselves caution against hardening our hearts to God’s voice, warning of the spiritual and moral fallout that follows when humanity abandons divine truth.

The Bible offers a foundation for knowing and understanding that is unmatched by human methods. The Bible does not compete with empiricism or rationalism; it completes them by addressing the aspects of reality they cannot reach. Through His Word, the Father reveals not only His own nature but also the ultimate purpose and destiny of humanity. To dismiss revelation is to close ourselves off to the fullness of truth. But to embrace it is to walk in the light of knowledge, drawn not from human discovery but from the eternal wisdom of the Creator Himself.

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no prophetic vision, the people cast off restraint.

REFLECT & PRAY

The number of times I have done what was right in my own eyes and abandoned the truth of the Father’s revelation is embarrassingly high.

Father, I ask for Your guidance. Help me to take Your revealed truth seriously and make it the foundation of my beliefs, decisions, and actions. Strengthen me to prioritize Your Word above my limited understanding so that I do not lean on myself but firmly trust in Your wisdom.

INSIGHT

Proverbs 29:18 reveals a profound truth when it says, “Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint” (ESV). The Hebrew word for “vision,” chazon, refers not just to any vision but specifically to divine revelation, prophetic insight, or guidance from God. Without this anchoring revelation, individuals and societies become untethered, losing their sense of purpose and direction.

The phrase “cast off restraint” stems from the Hebrew word para, which conveys a sense of neglect, lawlessness, or throwing off all authority. It is used in the passive form in Hebrew and means to lack restraint. Essentially, when people reject God’s truth, they descend into chaos and lack the discipline necessary for a flourishing life or society.

This pattern is vividly illustrated throughout Scripture. Judges 21:25 depicts a time of anarchy in Israel, saying, “In those days, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Without divine guidance or governance, the nation spiraled into moral and social disorder. Ecclesiastes 8:11 echoes this same principle on an individual scale, warning that when sin and wrongdoing are not punished, people feel safe to continue on destructive paths.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.

Rejecting God’s ultimate authority is a danger that extends beyond ancient times to modern society. Many prioritize personal feelings over objective biblical standards, leading to a “do what feels right” mindset.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seems right to a man, but as its end, it is the way of death.

“In the Hebrew text, the metaphor is more vividly expressed: “There is a way that seems right before a man, but at its end are ways of death.” A man stands at the beginning of a road, and it looks fine to him; but when he comes to an end, he discovers death lies before him no matter which way he turns” (UBS).

Decisions made without regard for the Scriptures may appear harmless or even good at first, but they often result in unintended, devastating outcomes. Proverbs 16:25 warns us of this danger, declaring, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

When we depart from the Father and His truth, we often fall into anarchy and run wild. What happens when a society rejects God’s revelation, and everyone does as he sees fit? You get a culture that looks much like 21st-century America (Stanley).

Is there hope?

When we humble ourselves and place God’s revelation at the center of our lives, we experience stability, harmony, and guidance. His Word instructs us in righteousness, while His Spirit empowers us to live according to His truth. Society can also find restoration by turning to the unchanging foundation of God’s authority and truth. Harmony and balance are achievable, but only when His revelation is recognized as the primary source of wisdom and direction.

“God forgives sin and wickedness when we repent and come to Him in faith, but He does not always prevent us from experiencing the consequences of our wicked behavior” (Stanley).

Life choices often come with risks and false promises. They offer happiness, power, and a good life. However, what we gain usually does not last. The achievements and possessions we acquire in this life do not follow us into eternity.

What truly matters is not what we know but rather Who we know.

¯_(ツ)_/¯11-16-2

© Dr. H 2024