Wycliffe Bible translator, Lee Bramlett, had learned that most verbs for the Hdi people of Cameroon ended in either an a, i, or u. While still unsure how to reach these people with God’s love for them, God prompted Lee to look at their verb for love, which was “dva” and “dvi”, but never “dvu”.

When he discussed this observation with the tribal leaders that were helping him with his Bible translation work, their eyes were opened to understand the Gospel.

Lee asked for his helpers to explain “dva” and “dvi”, learning that they never used “dvu”.  He then asked, “Could God ‘dvu’ people?”

There was complete silence for three or four minutes; then tears started to trickle down the weathered faces of these elderly men. Finally they responded. “Do you know what this would mean?  This would mean that God kept loving us over and over, millennia after millennia, while all that time we rejected His great love. He is compelled to love us, even though we have sinned more than any people.” (Read the whole story on Wycliffe Global Alliance to learn how God kept this special word, “dvu”, to reach their hearts.)

NOTES:

• This post is part of The Sower, encouragement on MikeandSus.org to help you share your faith.
• This image is Sower with Setting Sun by Vincent Van Gogh.