It’s All in Who You Know

Try to make it in any business and you’ll find this statement to be true. If you know someone on the inside, they can help bring you on board. It’s the basis of LinkedIn, the popular job networking site. You connect with everyone you know and all your friends connect with everyone they know. Then see if you can link with some of your friends’ connections that might be an asset to you. Which connection can help you get a job?

In showbiz, it helps to know someone who can get you an audition for great parts. In the music industry, when you have a personal connection with someone from a label, you’re more likely to get your music heard. Even in the writing industry, every new writer is encouraged to attend conferences, because in those conferences you can make personal contacts with people in publishing.

It’s the word “know” that stuck out in my quiet time reading this morning. I am reading the Bible through and am in Ezekiel. God spoke through the prophet Ezekiel to give messages to the Israelite nation. Frustrated with the people’s worship of idols, God tells Ezekiel again and again to warn the people He’s about to bring wrath on them.

Each time God shares what He’ll do, He adds, “Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

“The inhabited towns will be laid waste and the land will be desolate. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 12:20 NIV

After reading a few chapters, I noticed that phrase repeated over and over. So I did a little research. In the book of Ezekiel, the phrase “Then you will know I am the Lord,” is repeated 34 times! I investigated further and found variations of the same phrase consistently throughout the entire Old Testament.

“They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.” Exodus 29:46 NIV

“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10

Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other.” Joel 2:27

The Hebrew word for “know” is “yada.” The definition says, “to know, recognize, understand; to have sexual relations.” Woah. Wait. Did that just say the S-word? Did we just jump way off course?

Not really. You see, the idea behind the sex part of this definition isn’t the actual physical intercourse so much as it is the physical intimacy. Two people cannot get any close than sexual intercourse. So using the word “yada” means “to know someone in the closest possible way.” That’s what God is trying to get across to us. It’s what He’s been saying since the Old Testament times.

I want you to know me.
I want you to know I am your God.
I want you to know how much you mean to me.
I want you to know I am Creator and Ruler over all things.
I want you to know I’m with you when you are going through hard times.
I want you know I would never leave you.
I want you to know I see you.
I want you to know I hear your prayers.
I want you to know my ways are not like yours.
I want you to know I loved you so much I allowed my Son to die for your sins.
I want you to KNOW!

God brought His wrath on the Israelites for not knowing Him. They were driven from their Promised Land and sent into exile. Then as the New Testament dawned, God came up with another plan. A plan so people could know Him. He put skin on and came in the form of a man – Jesus. But His plea is still the same. Will you know me?

He’s not asking “do” you know me so much as “will” you? You see “do” you know God, simply asks, “Do you believe He exists?” Do you know who He is? And most people will admit they believe. But what the Creator of all things really wants to know is “Are you willing to know Him?” Would you agree to know Him in the closest possible way? Because knowing God on that level and understanding how He became flesh, died and rose again is the key to eternal life.

You see it really is true. The best things in life really are in Who you know. Will you accept the knowledge of Him today?