"Tell them that it's human nature"--A study of Galatians (Day 7 question 6)

 

"But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elements?  Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?"

Galatians 4:9

To be known.   Our human nature has a deep desire to be known.  According to Google--"To be known is desired in relationships with friends, family, or romantic partners; some even say it is the most satisfying thing in life."  Pastor Timothy Keller wrote in his book The Meaning of Marriage--"To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial.  To be known and not loved is our greatest fear.  But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God.  It is what we need more than anything.  It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us."  My friends, family, and I love to send "reels" to each other.  The funniest ones are the ones that have a back story or an inside joke.  When I send them, I often will say "It's like they know us!!" 

To be known ticks every box on the life wheel of human nature we covered on Day 1.  It affects our self-esteem, self-confidence, self-image.  It deeply influences us behaviorally, socially, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  It can be freeing or awkward.  Freeing because you don't have to pretend because they know you.  Awkward because you can't pretend because they know you.  

The Galatians are nearing the end of this interrogation by Paul, this man who knows them and loves them enough to confront them in their sin.  He's doubling down on the question in chapter 3, verse 4 

"Did you experience so much for nothing--if in fact it was for nothing?"

But now he's going deeper, reminding them that it wasn't just an "experience", they have come to know God and to be known by Him.  

Why, WHY would they want to go back to the weak, worthless elementary principles of the world? Why would they want to be slaves again?  It's human nature.  We like having a list, marking things off as we do them.  But when we can't actually finish this list, we become slaves to it.  Trying and trying and trying to make it happen, never quite  reaching the goal.

We know it as well as the rich young ruler knew it in Mark 10.  He confronted Jesus with the question "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus listed 6 of the commandments to him, the ones that affect our interactions and relationships with each other as humans.  The young man said "Perfect! Those have been marked off of my to-do list!!"  But he could not finish the list, so he walked away, choosing slavery over freedom. 

To know God and be known by Him may seem awkward because of our sin, because of our shame.  But it's actually so very freeing.  He already knows our sin and shame, and He loves us in spite of it.  To KNOW Him and accept that He knows us and loves us should make us want to run to HIM, not to the things that cause us so much shame.  King David, the king God chose to be the house His own Son would be born into, knew this all too well.  He had much sin, much reason for shame.  But he didn't let that stop him from running to God in prayer and freedom.  To end, let's pray this ancient prayer of King David that still resonates in our hearts today.

  

"LORD, You have searched me and known me. 

You know when I sit down and when I stand up; 

You understand my thoughts from far away.  

You observe my travels and my rest; 

You are aware of all of my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, LORD.  

You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me.  

This wondrous knowledge is beyond me.

It is lofty, I am unable to reach it.  

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? 

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.  

If I fly on the wings of the dawn and settle down on the western horizon,

even there Your hand will lead me;

Your right hand will hold on to me.  

If I say 'Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night'--

even the darkness is not dark to You.

The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to You.

For it was You who created my inward parts;  You knit me together in my mother's womb. 

I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made...

Search me, God, and know my heart; 

test me and know my concerns.  

See if there is any offensive way in me; 

lead me in the everlasting way." Psalm 139