by furaha nchimbi | 5 August 2020 08:46 pm08
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Hosea 4:6 (ESV)
The “knowledge” spoken of here is not referring to academic achievement or formal education. While earthly knowledge has its value, Hosea is speaking of the knowledge of God a deep, reverent, and obedient understanding of who God is, His laws, His nature, and His will.
In the original Hebrew, the word used for “knowledge” is daʿat (דַּעַת), which often refers to intimate, experiential knowledge the kind that comes from relationship, not just information.
This is reinforced in:
Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
The “fear of the Lord” means reverent awe and obedience not terror. It’s the foundation of true knowledge. Without it, a person is spiritually blind, no matter how intellectually accomplished they may be.
In Hosea’s time, Israel was suffering moral and spiritual decay. They had rejected God’s law, worshiped idols, and lived in rebellion. The priests had failed in their duty to teach God’s Word. The result? National destruction.
This is why God says, “because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me…”
Rejection of divine knowledge leads to God’s rejection, not out of cruelty, but as a consequence of violating His covenant.
Compare with:
Isaiah 5:13 (ESV)
“Therefore my people go into exile for lack of knowledge; their honored men go hungry, and their multitude is parched with thirst.”
Destruction, as used in Hosea 4:6, is not just physical ruin it includes spiritual loss, moral collapse, and eternal separation from God.
The enemy (Satan) thrives on ignorance. When people do not know God’s Word or His character, they are easily deceived, manipulated, and destroyed.
Proverbs 4:13 (ESV)
“Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life.”
God’s wisdom is not optional it’s a lifeline.
Jesus echoes this in the New Testament:
Matthew 13:52 (ESV)
“Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Here, Jesus speaks of the educated in the Kingdom of Heaven not worldly scholars, but those instructed in the things of God.
In Proverbs 1:24–33, we’re warned about the outcome of ignoring God’s voice:
Proverbs 1:29–30 (ESV)
“Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof…”
This shows that rejecting divine wisdom leads to ruin. Not because God is eager to punish, but because His wisdom is the only true protection against sin, chaos, and death.
Proverbs 1:33 (ESV)
“But whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Without spiritual knowledge:
We fear witches instead of fearing God.
We can’t discern the times or understand prophecy.
We are vulnerable to deception, false teachers, and spiritual traps.
We may live morally or religiously yet be eternally lost.
Jesus warned:
Matthew 22:29 (ESV)
“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
This was said to the Sadducees religious leaders who were “educated,” but lacked spiritual truth. The same can happen today.
God invites us not just to know about Him, but to know Him personally:
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV)
“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might… but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me…”
This is what we are called to pursue intimacy with God, not just theology or religion.
John 17:3 (ESV)
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
The call is urgent. You can be a doctor, professor, engineer, or politician but without the knowledge of God, Heaven sees you as spiritually uneducated. And if this knowledge is rejected, the end is destruction in this life and the next.
Let us seek God’s truth, study His Word, and be filled with the knowledge of His will.
Colossians 1:9–10 (ESV)
“…that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…”
May the Lord be with you.
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