Don’t I or Do I?

 

Solomon, to whom God gave wisdom and exceedingly great understanding (ref. 1 Kings 4:29), wrote an entire book of advice from which we can glean wisdom and understanding to traverse the rigours of this life.

It is the Book of Proverbs in our bibles, and in chapter 26, verse 4 (NLT) we are told,

Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

Simple enough. Understood.

But then, right after that, almost in the same breath, in the very next verse, verse 5, Solomon’s advice is,

Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

What? Don’t answer, be sure to answer? Okay…so, don’t I or do I?

This is but only one example of many seeming contradictions in the bible that challenge logic. Scripture isn’t always clear cut or straightforward, as a matter of fact the bible is downright confusing mostly and that’s exactly how God intended it to be, after all the same Solomon lets us know that,

It is God’s privilege to conceal things and the king’s privilege to discover them. (Proverbs 25:2 NLT)

Now keep in mind that the bible is comprised of a collection of books, 66 to be precise, written over varying centuries by various people who were spiritually inspired to give an account of events.

Some events are historical, some personal, some orally handed down but they’re all there in an effort to make sense of life, justice, love, peace, and most importantly God and His will and His purpose as it pertains to all of us.

So yes, it’s confusing. God’s Word of apparent paradoxes may fill us with uncertainty but at the same time rightly dividing His Word (ref. 2 Timothy 2:15) forges absolute certainty within us.

This conflict forces us to read the Word with open-minded curiosity, provokes thoughtful analysis which encourages us to dig deep, to wrestle and to question.

The bible was written to form us into thoughtful Spirit-led people, to transform us by changing the way we think (ref. Romans 12:2), to replace our hearts from stubborn to tender and responsive (ref. Ezekiel 36:26), to renew our spirits aright (ref. Psalm 51:10), to re-shape us (ref. Jeremiah 18:6) and to build ourselves up in our most holy faith (ref. Jude 20).

The faith that understands that faith does not need to be simple to be true yet able to recognize the truth of the simplicity of faith even in the complexities of life.

Faith is not about having all the answers; it’s about trust when you’re mired in mess, when things are complicated, when the place you’re in is so dark that you can’t see past your nose.

The bible forces us to pay particular attention to the words and to the Word for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17 NKJV) and this faith equips us to live in the mystery, to handle the tension, the conflict, the confusion and the chaos, not alone but by seeking Spirit’s guidance

Beloved, you are not meant to sojourn this life on your own, God  has given us a magnificent gift, let’s read it.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Don’t I or Do I?” ©2026 April 10, 2026