“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105, NIV
Caught up in conversation with my two daughters in the backseat, my teachable moment fizzled as I spied flashing lights in the rearview mirror.
A few moments later the polite policeman asked if I had any idea how fast I was going.
Nope.
Did I know the speed limit on that stretch of highway?
No idea.
He astutely pointed out, I just didn’t know.
In Genesis 20, we read of King Abimelek, a man who fell victim to a scheming prophet. King Abimelek gazed a pretty foreign woman, Sarah, and appreciated her great beauty. Upon inquiry, he learned she was traveling with her brother Abraham. So the King treated both Sarah and Abraham well, bestowing upon them many great gifts. Then, King Abimelek sent for Sarah and took her as his wife.
God intervened, communicating with Abimelek in a dream and saving him from sin. Because Sarah was not just traveling with her brother, but her husband as well.
Verse three of this chapter tells us, regardless of our knowledge, or lack thereof, wrong is still wrong whether we possess a clear conscious or not.
And, although God is gracious, we are held accountable for our actions.
“I didn’t know” is not an acceptable excuse. Not for a King claiming a married woman as his wife, nor an excitable mom flying down the highway. There are consequences for our actions and we can be certain God sees us every time. And He will pull us over!
Reflections:
1) Do I mentally excuse myself from consequences because I had no idea?
2) Is it acceptable, excusable, to break the laws of the country when I didn’t know that law? Is it excusable to break God’s laws when I didn’t know His laws?
3) Spending time in His word is one of the best methods for learning God’s laws. How can I regularly carve time out with my Bible?
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for placing me here, in this time and place. Here, I have Your complete Word. I have the education so I am able to read Your word. I have access to it in my native tongue. You have blessed me with all those resources plus the ability to own my own personal copy of Your word. Please help me keep my focus on Your word and not become distracted in my time in it. You gave me these laws to protect me from harm, heartbreak, and from certain death. Please nudge me, reminding me in the midst of my busy days to stop, take time and rest in Your great wisdom and love, and to focus on Your law. Thank you for loving me so much! Amen.
Thanks for reading! Please return by next Monday, December 1, for the next post.
Wow, what a teachable moment and great illustration for Christ’s salvation. Unfortunately “I just didn’t know” won’t cut it upon seeing Jesus face to face, will it? Great post (and sorry about getting pulled over.) Blessings,
Thanks for the comment. Not included in the story but truly happened was the fact that the “teachable moment” I was having with my daughters before the lights was about how you must accept consequences even if you were unaware you did something wrong! Then God gave me the perfect real life example! I have often gotten carried away and forgotten the power of a car, so I have since learned to pay closer attention to my speed.
Thanks for your encouragement! Stefanie Lynn