Ha ji mah!

In January, I was contracted to teach three weeks in a Winter English Camp in Gyeongju. I would leave home on Monday mornings and arrive back home on Friday afternoons. I taught 4th graders for 11 hours a day. During the three weeks they taught me a few helpful things. One phrase they taught me, which I've used a lot since then, was "ha ji mah." It means, "don't do that."

When I break out this phrase in class the students are surprised that I know a little Korean. Occasionally, they will actually stop whatever wrong they are doing. My goal is to teach them as much as possible and to make their time in class the best it can be. Do they see things the same way I do? No. They want to play and do what THEY want to do. Do I blame them? Not really. If I remember correctly, I was "sometimes" the same way.

Adam and Eve were sinless and lived in a perfect environment. The two had everything they needed and they still wanted more. Even though God said, "Don't do that," they chose their ways above God's ways and He allowed them to get what they wanted.

Israel, basically, did the same thing when they asked God to give them a king. He who has perfect wisdom was their guide through life, yet they wanted what the world had. They wanted a leader that was imperfect and who did not have the wisdom of God. This doesn't make sense when you stand back and study this story. Again, God said, "Don't do that," and again they chose their ways above God's.

Many people gathered together as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. They praised Him and cried, "Hosanna in the Highest." They didn't need freedom from Caesar, they needed freedom from sin. The people were soon disappointed because they didn't realize that Jesus must rule their hearts before He could rule their lives. Soon they would cry "Crucify Him!" This time God didn't say, "Don't do that" to the people; He said "forgive them." He gave them what they wanted so He could make available what they needed...the Saviour.

As I look back on my childhood, I remember there were two ways to keep from making bad choices. One way was to think before I acted. The other way was not to think and discover I'd done wrong when a big paddle was quickly making it's way toward my fanny. Which way is better? I think you and I both know.

We should all listen carefully for those times when God says, "Ha ji mah." Why? Because He only wants what's best for you and me.