The phrase “I know nothing!” was made famous in an episode of Fawlty Towers when Manuel the Spanish waiter refuses to back up his boss Basil Fawlty when clarification is required concerning an amount of cash that Basil has won on a horse racing bet. Manuel takes his stand because Basil has told him to deny knowledge of the win if Sybil, Basil’s wife, asks where the money came from.
The fact that I know nothing is increasingly evident as I grow older. Despite school, university and professional qualifications I know very little about the universe, this planet, my country, or even my county. I know even less about God who put it all together in a little show called creation, as documented in the book of Genesis. Knowing that I know nothing is a good place to start if I want to know something.
There are folk who believe that they know enough to say that there is no God, and that creation is a myth. There are folk who believe that it doesn’t matter how they live their lives, and that lifestyle is a choice. Certainly there are choices and all of us know that choices turn out to be either good or bad.
I choose to believe that there is a God, and that He created all that exists. I make that choice knowing I know nothing, but accepting in faith what I read in the Bible and the evidence I see all around me in creation. I make that choice because God has chosen to pursue me with His relentless love since He first put a mark on my life when I was just twelve years old. Knowing that I know nothing leaves me with no other choice than to come on my knees surrendering to God in a place where words are meaningless because I cannot even begin to describe the overwhelming love of God or why it matters so much that I try every day to give Him first place in my life.
How about you? What do you know?
When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness – timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2: 1-5 NLT)
Ebs and Flows... 
Julie (aka Cookie) said:
you know the “I know nothing” phrase also came from the 1960’s kitschy Hogan’s Heroes—the sitcom about a motley crew of prisoners of war in a Nazi war camp loosely based on the more serious movie Stalag 17. The silly german Sargent Schultz tasked with guarding the prisoners, who witnessed all sorts of shenanigans always reported to the camp commandant, ” I know nothing” always in his best little German accent.
And like you I know nothing earth shattering, no inside scoop per se, just that I believe in God as my Father, His son as my Savior and the Spirit as my constant companion— and just as you say, it is based not in proven facts or executed formulas, but rather is rooted in a simple and enduring faith—
Thank you for sharing such loving honesty David–
hugs–Julie
David said:
I vaguely remember Hogan’s Heroes Julie. We didn’t get a TV until 1964 and then there were only two channels and limited broadcasting time. It didn’t really matter as we rarely played indoors as kids. I shall have to look on YouTube for Sgt Schultz. Fawlty Towers was really popular with everyone in our house – except Marilyn who had to put up with our older boys quoting lines (such as ‘I know nothing’) around the house.
Blessings, David
nataliescarberry said:
Loved the post and the music! And God is good! Other than than I know nothing! 🙂 ❤
David said:
Thank you Natalie. A few years ago we went to the wedding of a girl who had been in the youth group I once co-led – she and her husband chose Indescribable as one of the songs for their wedding service. It touched me then and it still does.
snowgood said:
Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. – great passage. I remember a day when I trusted God more, and man less. As a new convert I was happy to sit under the ministry of any preacher, but as I got older I (stupidly) came to think God would always work better with “good” preachers.
David said:
How quickly we forget Stephen – to rely only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rachel Quigley said:
I heard someone say today, “we don’t know what we don’t know.” It was a good talk and I realize it’s true. There are somethings I just don’t know yet I don’t even know that I don’t know them.
David said:
I think the pressures and distractions of life make it is easy to forget that there is so much more that we don’t know about – so much more to discover in Him. Just recently I have been trying to remember just one thing every day that God has done for me, and record it in my journal. The picture those one-line memories are beginning to paint is incredible, and encouraging, particularly when I remember there is much more yet to come.
Jessie Clemence said:
I also know nothing. And this is why I get very uncomfortable when people start debating creation details, or evolutionary process, or even bits of history. We weren’t there! Why fight about something that we will never fully understand this side of heaven?
Like you, I choose to believe God is greater than my measly brain and could have created the world any way He chose. 🙂