We are moving into the book of Exodus. We are starting in chapter one with our word for today. יָדַ֖ע know, notice, hear of, learn, reveal, be or become known, realize. It is used 939 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the experiential sense several times. Genesis 29:4-5 Jacob asked the shepherds, “My brothers, where are you from?” “We’re from Harran,” they replied. He said to them, “Do you הַיְדַעְתֶּ֖םknow Laban, Nahor’s grandson?” “Yes, we יָדָֽעְנוּknow him,” they answered. Exodus 5:2 Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not יָדַ֙עְתִּי֙ know the Lord and I will not let Israel go.” Judges 2:8, 10 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died at the age of a hundred and ten…After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who יָֽדְעוּ֙ knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. This is how our word is used today in our chapter. Exodus 1:6-8 Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them. Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not יָדַ֖ע know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”
This concept of knowing from experience is foundational to life because God created us as relational beings who need to connect with Him and others. Everyone God created needs to have someone to tell their stories to and experience life with. Jesus points to knowing and being known as the highest priority in one’s life with these words. John 17:2-3 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. The new Pharaoh didn’t know God nor did he know God’s people and how much God used Joseph to bless the nation of Egypt. The next generation after Joshua did not know how much God blessed them through Joshua. Without having our own personal experience with God and his people we are in a lot of trouble. We see Jesus warning against not having this personal experience or relationship with God and his people. Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! I’ll close with a couple of passages one where David is encouraging his son Solomon to know God and a Psalm of David who delights in not only knowing God but in the overwhelming reality that God knows us. 1 Chronicles 28:9 And you, my son Solomon, דַּע֩ know the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. Psalm 139:1-6 You have searched me, Lord, and youוַתֵּדָֽע know me. You יָ֭דַעְתָּ know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, יָדַ֥עְתָּ know it completely...Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
