If you want to be great, learn. We, who are human, learn by either instruction or experience. It is important to note that most animals are instinctually driven. The human race is taught or acquires knowledge by trying different approaches until one is found to be the most fruitful.
There are problems associated with taking the learning approach of experience. In marriage for instance, it is difficult to know when you are in a good marriage, unless you’ve had the experience of a bad one. Few strike it rich on their first swing. Our obedience to God’s law makes us the example to follow, though married for the first time.
We can be taught how to speak proper, and yet never speak properly. Like one who speaks well placed words with a fork tongue, puncturing the hearts of those who listens. They were taught well, just taught wrong. It is like shopping in the marketplace of wicked ideas. If we are trained in deception, the culture suffers when deceit spreads. Forcing upon those conquered, an ungodly evil tongue. This kind of instruction splits society into many rival factions.
The nation that experiences a drought of truth is led into collapse and terrible unrest. During this dark period, there is a rise in violence and its evidence is visible. There is a flare-up of disturbance, caused by human-on-human violence, when society is in decline.
The truth of God is the standard from which reality or authenticity is measured. When we speak from a divine frame of reference, the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. Even enemies recognize HIS peace in our lives. Being grateful for God’s wisdom that allows us to soar on the wings of increase. Great are the mysteries of Godly instruction.
Genesis 26:5
New International Version
5 “because Abraham obeyed me and did everything I required of him, keeping my commands, my decrees and my instructions.” ”
Genesis 26:5
King James Version
5 “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
Genesis 26:5
Living Bible
5 “I will do this because Abraham obeyed my commandments and laws.” ”
Exodus 12:24
New International Version
24 “ “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants.”
Exodus 12:24
King James Version
24 “And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.”
Exodus 12:24
Living Bible
24 “And remember, this is a permanent law for you and your posterity.”
Exodus 18:20
New International Version
20” Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave.”
Exodus 18:20
King James Version
20 “And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.”
Exodus 18:20
Living Bible
19-20 “Now listen, and let me give you a word of advice, and God will bless you: Be these people’s lawyer—their representative before God—bringing him their questions to decide; you will tell them his decisions, teaching them God’s laws, and showing them the principles of godly living.”
Judges 3:1
New International Version
3 “These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan”
Judges 3:1
King James Version
3 “Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;”
Judges 3:1-3
Living Bible
3 1-3 “Here is a list of the nations the Lord left in the land to test the new generation of Israel who had not experienced the wars of Canaan. For God wanted to give opportunity to the youth of Israel to exercise faith and obedience in conquering their enemies:* the Philistines (five cities), the Canaanites, the Sidonians, the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath.”
Job 21:19
New International Version
19 “It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’
Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it!”
Job 21:19
King James Version
19 “God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it.”
Job 21:19
Living Bible
19 “ “‘Well,’ you say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ But I say that God should punish the man who sins, not his children! Let him feel the penalty himself.”