Don’t Be a Fool

No one likes to be called a “fool”. So I hope today, known as the infamous “April Fools Day”, you are able to avoid any efforts to label you as such!

The Bible contains many warnings to avoid the label of “fool” as well. In fact, several different Hebrew words are used in the Bible for that which our English Bible translates as “fool” each time. Knowing the Hebrew words can show us some of the nuances of what it means to be a fool – and thus what to avoid.

נָבָל  (nâbâl, naw-bawl). This is a word that the Bible uses to describe someone who is morally depraved – someone who has no moral compass and absolutely no desire to follow any kind of ethical standard. Therefore, “The fool [nâbâl] says in his heart ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good” (Psalm 14:1; see also Psalm 53:1).

This word is also used to describe the Israelite people who turned against God: “Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?” (Deuteronomy 32:6)

Often, we see these sort of “fools” prosper around us. For a time, they proudly boast in their human achievements, and loftily declare that God is dead and His ways are antiquated. But again, it’s only for a time. Their ways bring death in their wake, but not forever. Isaiah prophesied a day when “No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected. For the fool speaks folly, his mind is busy with evil: He practices ungodliness and spreads error concerning the LORD; the hungry he leaves empty and from the thirsty he withholds water.”

In the Old Testament, we meet a man whose name was actually Nabal, and the appropriateness was not lost on his wife, Abigail. Nabal, a wealthy man with thousands of goats and sheep, refused to offer anything to David and his men, who had provided protection for Nabal’s shepherds all season. David responded in anger at this extremely foolish man who had no regard for David - the one who was to be the next king of Israel. Abigail, in contrast, acted in wisdom and encouraged David to trust God as his defender. She said to David, “May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name – his name is Fool, and folly goes with him” (1 Samuel 25:25a). Less than two weeks later, the LORD struck Nabal, and he died. Such is the fate of a fool who refuses to submit to the moral laws and the moral Lawgiver.

אֱוִיל ʼ (ĕvîyl, ev-eel'). This sort of “fool” is convinced of his or her own understanding and proudly announces it to the world. He hates anything that has anything to do with godly wisdom. The book of Proverbs describes this kind of fool as someone who actively turns away from wisdom, and toward that which causes trouble. Here is a sampling:

“The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice” (Proverbs 12:15).

“A fool spurns his father’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence” (Proverbs 15:5).

“It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel” (Proverbs 20:3).

כְּסִיל (kᵉçîyl, kes-eel'). And then there are people that are fools simply because they are…well…simple. To put it bluntly as does the definition in the Brown-Drivers-Briggs lexicon: “stupidity”. Perhaps “silly” is a good word to describe someone here. In at least one instance in Proverbs, this word is used in the context of someone we should avoid:

“Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips” (Proverbs 14:7)

This is someone who loves to share whatever’s on his mind but has no desire to find out if what he says is true:

“A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions” (Proverbs 18:2).

Knowing how to deal with someone like this requires wisdom. Like any relationship, it is complex and may require different tactics in different situations. We may want to avoid someone given to acting with stupidity and silliness, but that’s not always the best solution either. Proverbs supplies some interesting advice:

“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes” (Proverbs 26:4-5).

Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? Yet what the author is saying here is that we need to use wisdom to know when to follow either path. It’s never a one-size-fits all kind of response to such a fool. Sometimes we need to know when to ignore and stay silent; otherwise, the fool will pull us into his or her pointless or even harmful arguments. Other times, we may need to speak up against something a fool is saying or doing, which could lead to negative consequences – in the hopes that he or she will come to their senses.

Is there hope for such a “fool”? Only if they become open to the wisdom before them.

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him” (Proverbs 26:12).

In the New Testament, we see more examples of foolishness in response toward, of all things, God’s wonderful act of grace. The gospel of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has always been a stumbling block to so many people. For many, the idea of victory through death is truly “foolish” – absurd, silly. But it’s this “foolishness” that is actually God’s wisdom, and the way to eternal life (see 1 Corinthians 1). We can choose to be wise and believe, or remain a simple fool or worse - as one wise in our own eyes - and miss the greatest gift of grace that we could ever receive.

When we are willing to set aside worldly wisdom and selfish interests – when we are ready to admit that God is real, His ways are good, and that we want to live in his wisdom and grace – we leave our foolish ways behind and receive understanding that leads to true life.