“Also, [that] the soul [be] without knowledge, [it is] not good; and he that hasteth with [his] feet sinneth. The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.” (Pr 19:2-3 AV)
Taken separately, these two verses are profound in and of themselves. To rush off into action without prudent forethought or sufficient information is dangerous. That would be the meaning of verse two if taken alone. Verse three states the individual who frets against the LORD will twist the ways of God to avoid them. Putting them together, however, strengths the idea that hasty decisions that attempt to avoid God’s will are foolish and perverts what God has designed for the saint. The missing ingredient to patience here is knowledge. However, as Job did, he sought the wrong facts. He tried to answer questions that, at the time, had no answers. Job tried to find a cause for God’s actions. He wanted to know why. The caution is to avoid reacting until we have all the necessary knowledge. We cannot fly off because we don’t like what we are facing. Knowledge before action is the key.
Judah was facing an invasion of Babylon. For hundreds of years, both Israel and Judah rejected Jehovah God. They had adopted the gods of their neighbors. They wanted to be like the world in order to be accepted by them. This was not what God called them to. They were delivered from Egypt centuries before to be a nation that was different. The design for Israel was to be a holy nation by which the rest of the world would understand who God is and what He requires. The intent was to bring the world under conviction, resulting in the world seeking God. They did not like God’s call on them, so rather than be different, they decided to be the same. Assyria invaded and carried away the ten northern tribes. A few decades later, Babylon did the same with Judah and Benjamin. Jeremiah warned Judah’s leaders to submit to their Gentile captors. They were told if they go to Babylon and submit for correction’s sake, they would live. However, if they turned tail and ran, they would be caught and murdered. Not liking their options, they decided the latter. They didn’t like what the LORD had planned for them, so they hasted with their feet and suffered consequences.
What is true regarding correction is also true regarding trials of faith. Seeking an end to a trial of faith is normal. No one enjoys trouble. No one looks for ways in which to be agitated, tested, or brought to the end of one’s self. We all try to be as comfortable as we can. This is normal. James says, “Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (Jas 1:3-5 AV) Note the connection with patience and knowledge. Wisdom is the key to allowing the trying of our faith to mature to completion. It is near to impossible to do. We want ease of life. We want all troubles to cease. We want that beach on a deserted Island or that cabin in a secluded valley. We want peace at all costs. We want perfect health. We want all our bills paid on time and the cupboards full. We want family nearby. We want relationships that never cease. We want a slice of heaven while here on Earth. But life is not that way. God has, for one reason or another, determined a course for us. There are troubles seas along the way. But as Paul’s ship captain learned, reacting without the knowledge of God will end in complete destruction. Those that are hasty with their feet will pervert the ways of God and will result in a much worse outcome.
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