I always used to think that the Bible was full of perfect people. That was before I actually started reading it. Since I had this preconception, I couldn't understand what was so good about the Bible. Why would I want to be like these people? They were disobedient, impatient, whiny, distrustful...some of them were even murderers and adulterers.
Sarah and Abraham (Abram) were promised a son. When it didn't happen as they thought it should, Sarah arranged for her husband to have a baby with her servant. Why did she take a promise of God and twist it to fit her own timing, instead of taking Him at His word?
Jonah was told to go to Ninevah and deliver a message of hope and salvation to a really dark nation. Instead, feeling that these people were not worthy of God's mercy, he got on a ship heading the exact opposite direction. Who was he to decide who was worthy to hear the message of God?
Eve was living in a paradise with nothing to do but make babies and enjoy life. She fell for the lie that there was something bigger to be gained by listening to the voice of the serpent. What could possible be more wonderful than the privilege of hanging out with God in the perfection of His creation?
Peter promised to stick with Jesus, even to the point of his own death. Instead, as soon as times got scary, he bailed. He denied knowing Him. How could someone who knew Christ in such proximity, in such sureness, do that?
The Bible is full of real life examples of imperfect people, people just like us. How many of us have denied Christ through our actions...? chosen the world over knowing God...? decided who among us was worthy of hearing the message of hope...? taken matters into our own hands instead of waiting on God...?
No, the Bible is not full of perfect people.
It is full of a perfect, faithful God. A God who loves us in spite of ourselves, who knows us better than anyone, even if we don't know Him. God still gave Sarah and Abraham the promised son. God gave Jonah time to change his mind and brought deliverance to the people of Ninevah. God did kick Eve (and Adam) out of the garden, but did not leave them without resources. And to Peter, He offered grace, a face to face opportunity to "undo" his worst moment.
Now when I read the Bible, I read with an eye open to how God relates to people who don't always make the right choices. People like me.
My favorite person is Moses; because God didn't use him until he was 80! For some reason, this gives me hope.
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