Knowledge

Francis Bacon said, "Knowledge is power."  Perhaps it might be better stated, "Knowledge of GOD is power."

In the garden of Eden, God told His human creation, "You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die (Genesis 2:16-17)."

What was at issue here? Was it that man would "know" good and evil or that he would not know God who sets the standard for good and evil. When Adam and Eve chose to increase themselves on the god-ward side, did they violate the sanctity of knowledge, or the sanctity of knowing God?  Was God never going to allow them access to that specific tree, or was He saying through His restriction, there is a greater knowledge that you must first understand before you can ever understand good and evil?

The writer of Proverbs tells us that if we seek wisdom, "Then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5b)." That is not God's knowledge, but knowledge of God; His character, His righteousness and justice; His standard for right living.  Of course these are not areas that we can fully know, but they are areas that this writer says are knowable. Once we understand knowledge of God, "Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path (Proverbs 2:9)."

Having this kind of knowledge helps me put things in perspective. That is, to see things differently. To, in some way, to some degree,  see "life" as God sees it. That is indeed a different perspective on knowledge.

Yes, to some degree "knowledge is power." However the greater statement is that, knowledge of God is power for right living.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...  (Proverbs 2:6)