Principle Passages: You Know What You Don’t Want To Know (1 Samuel 2:22; 3:13)

No matter how Scott [not his real name] did the math, the numbers just didn’t add up. His parents had been married in April and Scott was born in November – only 7 months after his parent’s wedding. Since Scott knew he wasn’t born premature, how could his birth take place a mere 7 months after conception?

Of course, Scott knew the answer – but he didn’t want to know the answer. It was easier to remain in denial than to admit the truth. And the thought of asking his parents was repulsive.

When Scott was 40 years old, he began examining the emotional wounds from the first half of his life. It was a painful, but necessary process. Through the urging of a Christian counselor, Scott mustered the courage to call his mother and ask her for the truth about his birth.

With trembling knees and a dry mouth, Scott dialed the number. When his mother answered, Scott explained his confusion and asked, “Mom, how could I have been born 7 months after you and Dad got married?” There was silence on the other end.

Finally, his mother started crying and poured out the secret that she had hidden for the past 40 years. As an engaged couple, Scott’s mom and dad had given into temptation and had sex before their wedding. She became pregnant and 7 months later Scott was born.

Through her tears, his mom asked, “Scott, I’m so sorry. Can you ever forgive me?” Immediately Scott responded, “Mom, I love you with all my heart. Of course I forgive you – and I will always love you no matter what.” Both of them cried and the two experienced a reconciliation that was filled with joy – not pain and shame.

In telling the story, Scott said, “I can’t imagine the heartache and guilt my mom experienced all those years.” He was thrilled that his mom was freed from the burden of keeping her secret sin buried. The experience drew Scott and his mom even closer together.

The truth is that Scott knew the secret since he was old enough to understand the birth cycle. He just didn’t want to admit it to himself. His experience is an example of the biblical truth: “You know what you don’t want to know.”

The prophet Eli also experienced this phenomenon. The Bible states, “Eli’s sons were scoundrels; they had no regard for the LORD” (1 Samuel 2:12). The entire community knew that Eli’s sons were living a selfish, sinful life. The only one who didn’t seem to know was Eli. To his credit, Eli finally did make one attempt to chastise his sons, but to no avail. After that feeble attempt, Eli lived in denial until the Lord intervened.

The Lord revealed to the boy Samuel – a prophet in training – that Eli and his sons were about to be judged for their sinfulness. God revealed, “For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them (1 Samuel 3:13).

The punishment was severe. The office of prophet was stripped from the Samuel’s generational line and passed to the house of Samuel. More tragically, Samuel’s two sons died on the same die as a result of their wicked lives.

Only you can answer this question: What do you know that you don’t want to know? Whatever it is, deal with it now. Your choice will definitely affect your future more than you know.

© 2012 Designed to Serve®