---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: One of the interesting things to me is…"
description: "\"One of the interesting things to me is that God grows throughout the Old Testament. He evolves, sort of matures, and becomes kinder.\" — A. J. Jacobs"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/a-j-jacobs-2-13695_bible_one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-t_2173354.jpg"
---

#  One of the interesting things to me is that God grows…

![“One of the interesting things to me is that God grows throughout the Old Testament. He evolves, sort of matures, and becomes kinder.” quote by A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/a-j-jacobs-2-13695_bible_one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-t_2173354.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/a-j-jacobs-2-13695_bible_one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-t_2173354.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/a-j-jacobs-2-13695_bible_one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-t_2173354.jpg)

> “One of the interesting things to me is that God grows throughout the Old Testament. He evolves, sort of matures, and becomes kinder.”

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker observes that God's character develops over the Old Testament, becoming more mature and compassionate.

**In simple terms:** God's character matures and becomes kinder over time.

Key Takeaway

Recognize growth and increasing compassion in divine narratives.

Themes

theology development compassion

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

theological philosophical

When to use this quote

- religious study
- personal reflection
- ethical discussions
- interfaith dialogue

Key Concepts

narrative evolution spiritual maturity

Questions to Reflect On

- What does this evolution suggest about divine nature?
- How does it affect personal faith?

A Different Perspective

Interpretations of divine change vary across traditions.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Evolve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolve/) [God Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-grows-662310/) [Grows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grows/) [Interesting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting/) [Interesting things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-things/) [Kinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kinder/) [Matures Kinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matures-kinder-4663557/) [Old testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-testament/) [Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament/) [Testament Evolves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testament-evolves-4663556/) [Things God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-god/)

## Related quotes

> [Through selfless work, love of God grows in the heart. Then through his grace one realize him in course of time. God can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramakrishna/through-selfless-work-love-of-god-grows-in-the-heart-then-through-his/)

[Ramakrishna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramakrishna/)

> [ “We plant, God grows" ~ R. Alan Woods \[2012\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/we-plant-god-grows-r-alan-woods-2012/)

[R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/)

> [“When the friendship is purely spiritual, the love of God grows with it; and the more the soul remembers it, the more it remembers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-aon-prakasha/when-the-friendship-is-purely-spiritual-the-love-of-god-grows-with-it/)

[Padma Aon Prakasha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-aon-prakasha/)

> [“The deeper an introvert’s relationship with God is and the more it grows, the greater the impact he or she will have on others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-bechtle/the-deeper-an-introvert-s-relationship-with-god-is-and-the-more-it/)

[Mike Bechtle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-bechtle/)

> [“In the same way, God grows his kingdom only as we take our hands off of what little portion he’s given to us, “die”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-greear/in-the-same-way-god-grows-his-kingdom-only-as-we-take-our-hands-off/)

[J.D. Greear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-greear/)

> [Through selfless work, love of God grows in heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/through-selfless-work-love-of-god-grows-in-heart/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Every time I count my blessings, my LOVE for GOD grows bigger... And every time I count my struggles, my FAITH in GOD grows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-reolope/every-time-i-count-my-blessings-my-love-for-god-grows-bigger-and/)

[Janet Reolope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-reolope/)

> [Maybe the growth of "God" signifies the existence of God. That is: if history naturally pushes people toward moral improvement, toward moral growth, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-wright/maybe-the-growth-of-god-signifies-the-existence-of-god-that-is-if/)

[Robert Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-wright/)

> [God grows fragrant flowers of hope in the ashes of loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/god-grows-fragrant-flowers-of-hope-in-the-ashes-of-loss/)

[Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/)

> [“For, when the friendship is purely spiritual, the love of God grows with it; and the more the soul remembers it, the more it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-de-la-cruz/for-when-the-friendship-is-purely-spiritual-the-love-of-god-grows/)

[Juan de la Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-de-la-cruz/)

> [All grace grows as Love to the Word of God grows.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-henry/all-grace-grows-as-love-to-the-word-of-god-grows/)

[Philip Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-henry/)

> [When God grows you up, you stop acting like a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-god-grows-you-up-you-stop-acting-like-a-child/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Some people as a result of adversity are sadder, wiser, kinder, more human. Most of us are better, though, when things go better. Knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/some-people-as-a-result-of-adversity-are-sadder-wiser-kinder-more/)

[Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/)

> [Although I can't stop all cruelty to living creatures on the planet, I can be kinder to every living creature in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/although-i-can-t-stop-all-cruelty-to-living-creatures-on-the-planet-i/)

[River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/)

> [Had I been brighter, the ladies been gentler, the Scotch been weaker, had the gods been kinder, had the dice been hotter, this could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mickey-rooney/had-i-been-brighter-the-ladies-been-gentler-the-scotch-been-weaker/)

[Mickey Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mickey-rooney/)

## More by A. J. Jacobs

> [It's sort of my job to feel good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/it-s-sort-of-my-job-to-feel-good/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [After a while, if you're committed, you start to believe in the things in which you're praying. It's just cognitive dissonance. You can't live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/after-a-while-if-you-re-committed-you-start-to-believe-in-the-things/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [Giulia Melucci has written a wonderfully funny and moving book. It's like Eat, Pray, Love, with recipes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/giulia-melucci-has-written-a-wonderfully-funny-and-moving-book-it-s/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [“The key is to pump up your righteous anger and mute your petty resentment. I'll be happy if I can get that balance to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/the-key-is-to-pump-up-your-righteous-anger-and-mute-your-petty/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [More people die on a per mile basis from drunk walking than from drunk driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/more-people-die-on-a-per-mile-basis-from-drunk-walking-than-from/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [I grew up in a very secular home with no religion at all, so I was starting from zero.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-grew-up-in-a-very-secular-home-with-no-religion-at-all-so-i-was/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [I don't believe that prayers actually change God's mind - if there is a God - but I liked praying for people in need.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-don-t-believe-that-prayers-actually-change-god-s-mind-if-there-is-a/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [ How do you gag the voice in your head that says, 'You don't have to \[do it\] today. There's always tomorrow.'? ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/how-do-you-gag-the-voice-in-your-head-that-says-you-don-t-have-to-do/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [There's a very passionate pro-chewing movement on the Internet called Chewdiasm. They say that we should be chewing 50 to 100 times per mouthful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/there-s-a-very-passionate-pro-chewing-movement-on-the-internet-called/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [I know that history is simultaneously a bloody mess and a collection of feats so inspiring and amazing they make you proud to share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-know-that-history-is-simultaneously-a-bloody-mess-and-a-collection/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [I have little shame, no dignity – all in the name of a better cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-have-little-shame-no-dignity-all-in-the-name-of-a-better-cause/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [There's a lot of food restriction in the Bible, but it does say you're allowed to eat crickets, grasshoppers, and locusts. I decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/there-s-a-lot-of-food-restriction-in-the-bible-but-it-does-say-you-re/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [I found there were things about religion that I really loved; things like the sense of gratefulness that it brings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-found-there-were-things-about-religion-that-i-really-loved-things/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [I love to live things, so I wanted to immerse myself and get into the mindset - and sandals - of my forefathers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/i-love-to-live-things-so-i-wanted-to-immerse-myself-and-get-into-the/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

> [A 2002 Oxford study showed counting sheep actually delays the onset of sleep. It's just too dull to stop us from worrying about jobs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/a-2002-oxford-study-showed-counting-sheep-actually-delays-the-onset/)

[A. J. Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

[Explore all 49 A. J. Jacobs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/)

## More Bible quotes

> [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/)

[Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/)

> [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/)

[Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/)

> [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/)

[Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/)

> [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/)

[Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/)

> [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/)

[Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/)

> [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/)

[Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/)

> [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/)

[Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/)

> [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/)

[Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/)

> [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/)

[Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/)

> [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/)

[Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/)

> [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/)

[Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/)

> [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/)

[J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/)

> [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? Heaven is referred to in fifty-four of the Bible's sixty-six books, and the final two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/what-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-of-heaven-heaven-is-referred-to-in/)

[David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/)

> [“While it is in one sense a result of God’s presence within us, the New Testament also describes a process involved in our “putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/while-it-is-in-one-sense-a-result-of-god-s-presence-within-us-the-new/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [The definition of a Church is crystal clear in the New Testament. We see the picture of it. They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/)

[John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

[Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "One of the interesting things to me is that God grows throughout the Old Testament. He evolves, sort of matures, and becomes kinder.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "A. J. Jacobs"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-that-god-grows-throughout-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Bible"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-that-god-grows-throughout-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/a-j-jacobs-2-13695_bible_one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-t_2173354.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/a-j-jacobs-2-13695_bible_one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-t_2173354.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d46/a-j-jacobs-2-13695_bible_one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-t_2173354.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“One of the interesting things to me is that God grows throughout the Old Testament. He evolves, sort of…” — A. J. Jacobs",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "A. J. Jacobs",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-jacobs-2/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "One of the interesting things to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-that-god-grows-throughout-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-jacobs-2/one-of-the-interesting-things-to-me-is-that-god-grows-throughout-the/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
