"You know good and well."

A depiction of the prophet Jonah being hunted by a large fish

To use the phrase “you know good and well” means to describe the innate ability a person has to differentiate between what is reasonable and what is not. This statement normally proceeds a denial of understanding about an idea or situation that should be clear due to a known prior experience. There are many ways to disregard facts and exchange them for favorable opinions. One good way is if a person acts as though they have no clue as to what is being communicated in an attempt to deflect the attention from what needs to be addressed.

This strategy is how some try to justify the behavior deemed as being “without common sense.” James 4:17 says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” A person speeding in a neighborhood at 100mph knows they are in a residential area and should drive the acceptable speed limit. One attempting to act as if they have no sense would at that point use ignorance of the law as a way to get out of a traffic infraction upon being pulled over by law enforcement. Unlike traffic laws, ignorance of biblical laws always count against those who know better. James 4:17 lets us know that when we know the word of God and disregard it for our own will, then we are in sin.

Jonah found himself in disobedience after ignoring God’s will and going after his own heart’s desire. Jonah 1:2-3 says, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.”

After God sent a storm that caused great fear amongst the mariners, Jonah was asked to call upon his God in an attempt to stop the storm from breaking the ship apart. After casting lots and identifying Jonah as the reason behind the storm, it seems like Jonah knew good and well why everyone was in distress and what should be done to correct the issue. Jonah 9-10 says, “And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land. Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.” In Jonah verse 12 it says, “And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.” God chastises those who are his, so act like you’ve got some sense.