The Human Race (Humility)

 There is a secret that's not too secret, it's one that most everyone in the world, knows but maybe doesn't acknowledge or wish to.  It's that there is only one race of people and it's called, "The Human Race".

According to an AI Overview,  yes 

"the world over has rougly 10,000 to 24,000 ethinic backgrounds or people groups.  These encompass but don't exclude others, but are represented as Indian, Chinese, whites of many 'flavors,' Africans and so many more.  These get broken down into 'sub-divisions' by culture and linguistic definitions, by indigenous identity, and by country-level data.  Each of those divisions have other classifications as well."

God's wealth of diversity though, equates as one human race.  Furthermore, all are equal human beings and He loves and values each one as if they are the only one in the world.  Each is His treasure.

There's an interesting Sunday School song with lyrics such as,

"If you're black or if you're white

or if you're inbetween, God loves you ..."

What's more, if you're short or tall, skinny or fat, rich or poor, walk straight or with a limp, God loves YOU!

If we make fun of, bully or abuse one people group or even individual because they are not like us - we call that prejudice.  On the flip side, when we favor others because they are like us, that's called partiality.  God does NOT like either scenario.  He calls it SIN (see James 2:9)!  If we are living humbly we will not be prejudiced nor will we engage in favoritism.

Jonah is rather a classic example of this.  When told to go preach to the Ninevites that Nineveh would be destroyed in 40 days because of their wickedness, Jonah fled.  There was no way he was going to go in and among his sworn enemies.  He was NOT going to warn them.  They could simply suffer their own destruction.  After all, they deserved it.

Those of us who know this Jonah story will understand other of Jonah's thoughts.  He knew God to be merciful and so he did not want to 'waste' his time on these people either in the advent of potential repentance among the people of this city.

Sure enough, when the chastised Jonah finally delivered God's message to the Ninevites, all the citizens 

"from the King down turned from their evil way.  God relented of the disaster that He had said He would do to them, and He did not do it" (Jonah 3:10 ESV).

They repented in sackcloth and ashes!

Oh that just burned Jonah up!  He was 

"exceedingly displeased and  ... angry" (Jonah 4:1).

As Jonah had watched and waited for the destruction to fall upon Nineveh, God had prepared a plant that grew up and gave him shade.  But then it withered.  Anger surged in Jonah's heart again.  Again he needed another lesson in humility and mercy.

We too can learn these lessons.  Jonah did acknowledge that God is,

"a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster." (Jonah 4:2 ESV).

Once we realize this, we will not be unfair or unjust to others.  We will love our neighbors, as we love ourselves.  We will learn to value others just as much as God does, no matter who they are or where they came from or what they look like.

God loves each and everyone of the world and wants to show mercy.  Our humble and repentant hearts will experience this.

When our attitude is more like Jesus' will, we'll have the benefit of humility working in us and in our favor.  We will be less prejudiced and not show partiality.  After all, we are all from the same human race.

Father God, You are the Creator of all the people groups of the human race.  You are so amazing!  It's breathtaking to think of them all.

Help me to love each one the way You do, to value them as equally important.  Help me to show mercy and not be prejudiced nor show partiality.  All this as I practice walking in humility with You.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

                                                ~ ERC  February 2026  ~

Based on on James 2:1-9; Romans 2:11 and the book of Jonah.

Sing, If You're Black or If You're White, along with Ey.