Christian Family Services Ministry

12-4-2020 – A Word to the Wise – The Lord as School Master II

As I was writing the last post several other ‘lessons’ came to mind one perhaps the Lord found humorous. I didn’t but I am sure He did. So let me share it as well.

During the last semester at OCC a couple of incidents occurred which was to have a major impact on my life. If memory serves me I was taking 20 semester hour and I was weary of learning. The worse subject being Hebrew.

Because of a learning disability I cannot learn the correct pronunciation of words through sight rather only by sound. Even now it is a problem. (Still cannot pronounce aluminum correctly).

However, Hebrew is best learned by sound. So on the drive to school I would write the words on the windshield to practice. It was hard and I cringe even to this day.

It was time for the final exam. Dr. McCord only had the final test which was to be the final grade for the class. I was hopelessly lost. I had no idea what to study. So I broke down and ask the Lord what was going to be on the test. I know you already think this is funny. It was not. I was miserable.

Immediately, the answer came back; Genesis 12:1-4. I took Him at his word and memorized every aspect of those verses in Hebrew. Test day comes Dr. McCord hands out the test I open it and the only thing on that test came from Genesis 12:1-4! I made 98 on the test. Now if I could only stop there. But it was not to be.

That last semester a visitor came from Harding Graduate School to try and get students to go on for the Master degree. This person tried to convince me to go. He told me about one of the teacher a Dr. Jack Lewis who held two doctorates one from Hebrew Union, and the second from Harvard. He raved about the man how he even got to eat dinner with him once.

In that moment of time I told myself I not only would not ever under any circumstance go to Harding and if per chance I did I would never, ever take one of Dr. Lewis’ classes!

The Lord saw it differently. I argued with Him, flatly refused, demanded that He change his mind. All to no avail.

That September Mary, Timothy, and I headed for Memphis, reluctantly.

The first day of school I made it to chapel 30 minutes early. The place was empty. Go into the small chapel looked at the arrangement of pews. There were two, one on each side at the very back which would suit me just fine. The pews were very short barely enough room for one person. Perfect.

I tried the one on the left first. It took exactly three steps from the pew to the exit door. Then I tried the right side. It only took two steps to the exit. So that is where I sat down. I did not want to be here. I did not want to talk to anyone and I knew for sure and certain I would be out that door before the last amen had finished reverberating.

Sure enough the place filled up and I talked to no one, and thankfully everyone ignore me.

As soon as the last amen sounded I took two steps and was out that door. Halfway down the hall I heard someone say ‘Jerry”. I figured they were not talking to me because I had talked to no one and so I just kept walking.

A second time the voice said ‘Jerry.’ I stopped turned and there was this short little man standing in the hall. He said his name was Jack Lewis and he needed to talk to me. He ask if I was Jerry I said yes. He ask me into his office which was right there. Walked in and there were books and folders everywhere. He ask me to sit down. Picked up a folder I could see it had my name on it. I said wonderful to myself. They figured I did not belong here either. I was relieved thank you Lord. I was leaving. I did not know where I was going but it most certainly was not going to be here.

Then the hammer fell and the Lord must have been laughing his head off. “I see you made a 98 in Hebrew. Yes well accidents happen. It seems I need a new student to grade papers and teach my Hebrew class when I am out of town, the job pays some small amount.

Lord God, what have you done to me. I had a tent in the state park outside Memphis since I did not have a job therefore no place to live. I had no money. Here I am standing talking to the one person I swore I would have nothing to do with, offering me a job teaching Hebrew which I should have failed! I will never ever ask for your help on a test again!

So for the next 3 years I substituted teaching Hebrew and grading papers every day. The lesson, be sure your careful about what you pray for.

A post script. Remember the character bragging about eating dinner with Dr. Lewis. Well I never ate with him. But it came about that he was having car problems and as he was describing it I knew exactly what was wrong told him I would work on it.

He took me out to this old piece of junk and I said to myself why in the world somebody as famous as him would be driving this old piece of junk?

I fixed it and therefore the next 3 years I kept it running. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to try and change a starter on a Buick which is only reached underneath the car with a foot of snow on the ground? A lot easier than Hebrew! This just is not funny Lord!