Human

**I started writing this post in January and just found it again and finished it, sorry if it choppy as a result**

Søren has taken a strong interest in hearing bible stories lately. Not the cheesy Sunday school watered-down "bible heroes" kind of stories, but the real deal.

Among his favorites are Jonah, Jesus feeding the 5000 then walking on water, and Balaam and his donkey.

One of the things I have been struck by as I continue re-reading the bible, is how absolutely human the characters are, and how extraordinarily-not-human God is.

This is a great comfort to me. Growing up we were taught bible stories that presented the men and women of the bible as nobly heroic and capable of some measure of righteousness. As I read it with adult eyes, I see deeply flawed men and women. People capable of grave error and the wrong motivations. Though I think what characterizes the "bible heroes" as such is that they ultimately have the right heart towards God, in moments their humanity overtakes them as it does us all.

Another thing that does not surprise me, but would seem to be at odds with so many people's view of the scripture, is the harmony of God's heart to be known to people other than the people of Israel in both the old and new testaments. Consider Balaam, who was not an Israelite, but who was a profoundly devoted prophet of God (who, yes, had an idiotic moment when he didn't trust his donkey). Think of the story of Job, which was written before the time of Israel. Think of the times God extended mercy (as to the Ninevites) when he saw truly contrite hearts. Or the pagans on the boat that Jonah joined trying to escape with them to the far side of the Mediterranean sea who were struck with the awe and power and actuality of Jonah's God. Perhaps part of why God allowed him to flee and get on the boat in the first place.

God works with and through people, broken, normal, humans capable of truly living for a kingdom to come, yet still not capable of fixing themselves. I find this a far more comforting view of a "hero". The men and women of the bible can truly serve to teach, admonish, and inspire me because, in truth, they were made of the same stuff, battled the same inner problems, and failed in the same ways - yet God choose them for eternal life because of their perseverance in faith. May I also persevere!