Malcolm Gladwell, one of my favorite authors, makes this pertinent observation: “The key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former. We are lacking in the latter.” Think how often this has led to wrong decisions!

The twelve spies had a glowing report of what Canaan offered. “We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it” (Numbers 13:27). But there were also problems and a negative report.

“And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight” (Numbers 13:32–33).

To use Gladwell’s analogy, they were swimming in information, but lacked understanding of the consequences of refusing to trust God and conquer the Promised Land on God’s schedule. Because of their lack of action a generation died in the wilderness.

“Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice; Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it: But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it” (Numbers 14:22–24).

We have the knowledge of the seriousness of sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And as we see the consequences of a life of sin around  us, but our lack of understanding allows us to make wrong choices too often.

The 119^th psalm includes pleas for understanding as well as recognition of the true source of wisdom: God’s word.

“O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: For thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: For thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:97-104).

Seek knowledge, but don’t stop there. Seek the understanding that will allow you to make good, God pleasing decisions.