I don’t like to not know. I don’t like to not have an answer or an opinion. Not knowing or not being able to reply makes me feel tense. And dare I say it? I feel stupid.
What’s even sillier, is that I will give an opinion even though I’m not sure I’m right—so that I can avoid saying, “I don’t know.” That’s pretty bad. My. My.
So it was with interest that I studied Zechariah 4:5. The prophet Zechariah has been shown a vision of a lampstand and several other things. He asks what the items mean and here’s verse 5: “So the angel who was speaking with me [Zechariah] answered and said to me, ‘Do you not know what these are?’ And I said, ‘No, my lord.'”
If I had been Zechariah, I wouldn’t have asked what the things are because that would have shown my…there’s that word again… stupidity.
And then when the angel asked, “Do you not know what these are?” I would have bluffed my way into some sort of answer (said as if I’m Rocky Balboa), “Well, sure, I know what it is. Whatcha think I’m stupid, or somepin’?”
So I’m admiring Zechariah. He had the humility to admit he didn’t know and he was willing to being instructed.
I need to remember him as my inspiration for admitting when I don’t know. It’s OK to even appear to be stupid because it doesn’t matter what other people think of me. What matters is God’s view of me and He already knows when I don’t know. And He would much rather I admit my lack of knowledge and ask to be informed.
In the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary, it says that the angel’s inquiry of “Do you not know…?” is not a reproof of Zechariah’s ignorance but an invitation to reflect on the mystery of what he’s seeing. And when Zechariah admits his ignorance, it’s “as a little child [who] casts himself for instruction at the feet of the Lord.”
I should remember that even if a person is giving me instruction, I may actually be “at the feet of the Lord” because He has designed for this person to give me information.
Ah yes….the old (and current!) battle between pride and humility! It’s ongoing for me. May God grant us grace to be humble and trust His will for us in each moment. Thanks for this post, Kathy.
Thank you, Joy, so much for your comment. And for your continued encouragement. Our humility truly is a gracious gift of God. I”m glad He’s sufficient for the battle!
Well done Ms. Kathy/ As I’ve gotten older, I’m finding it easier to admit I don’t know some things and I no longer pressure myself to have an answer for everything. I used to relish being “the trusted source” everyone at work depended upon. These days I ind it much easier to pass along the little wisdom I’ve amassed than to offer my opinion on everything,
J. D., what a great perspective. And yes, humility is being willing to not be the “trusted source.” I’d much rather have all the answers! LOL I appreciate your comments and honesty.