Sep
3
Control
Filed Under Devotional
I realized today how knowledge determines ownership and control. What I mean is that knowledge of a process, an object, or some detail effectively gives you some de facto control over the thing that is known.
My son has a computer that nobody else uses. For all intents and purposes, it is his computer. Today, however, when it needed some major overhauling, it was me he asked to help. And, because of the complicated work and the specialized knowledge I happened to have, I was in control of the computer. He basically had to stand back and watch even though he wanted to help. If I were malicious, I could cripple the machine such that he could never use it.
All software developers know the problem of “He who touched it last, owns it.” The idea is that if you made the last changes to a particularly unpleasant or gnarly piece of code, chances are you’ll be the only one asked to work on it again. The unfortunate owner is likely stuck with this responsibility until he no longer works for the company. Knowledge of the code determined the ownership.
It works in the positive direction, too. People go to college to study areas of interest so they can gain knowledge such that they can be the professionals or experts called upon to gain control of something. Those who can exert some control over money, often gather much of it. Those who can exert some control over political power, gather much of that as well.
Knowledge implies some control whether you want it or not.
This is why, subconsciously, the flesh resists the idea of an all-knowing God.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matthew 10:29-30
“Man’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.” Job 14:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; [...]” Jeremiah 1:5a
He knows us better than we ever could know ourselves. So, who should have control here? The flesh doesn’t want to admit that. It wants to believe that it has control.
But, what’s the point in fighting it? Isn’t it obvious Who knows more and Who is in the best position to be in control?