In the story of the Prodigal Son, we find that by ancient Middle Eastern cultural standards, the son's father was no ordinary father. Similarly, our heavenly father is also no ordinary Father. The prodigal's elder allowed his son to take his own inheritance early and leave home to live riotously, unheard of in those days. In the same way, our Father allows us to disobey and leave Him, by our own choice. When the prodigal returns, his father welcomes him back, no questions asked. Again, this runs counter to that culture and again, our Father welcomes us back, no questions asked. Indeed, by His mercy, our Father is no ordinary father.