The Bible consists of many chapters, and it may seem disconnected or hard to follow. However, they work together and build off of each other in a way that creates one long, beautiful story. Let us start from the beginning, with the first chapter of the Bible, Genesis. In this chapter, God creates the world. There are seven days of creation and on each day, He created something different. On the first day of creation, he created day and night- bringing light into the world. On the second day of creation, He separated the sky and waters, giving us the clouds and the ocean. On the third day God created land, plants, trees, and vegetation. On the fourth day he created the sun, moon, and stars. On the fifth day of creation, God created the fish and the birds. The sixth day of creation, God created man and land animals. The seventh day of creation, God rested, (Sabbath) and reflected on the good things He created. When God created the earth, it was a perfect place, free of sin, evil, and sickness. However, the very first people God created, Adam and Eve disobeyed God. They were tempted by a serpent in the garden to eat fruit from the only tree God told them not to eat from, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Because of this, the earth was no longer perfect, and each involved were cursed. The woman was cursed with pain in childbearing, and with man at the "top of the food chain"(as worded by a previous professor). The man was cursed with thorns, requiring him to work harder and the serpent was cursed with future humiliation. There was now death, evil, sin, and separation from God.
Many years later, Abraham, a descendent of Adam, was married to a woman named Sarah. God promised Abraham she would be a “mother of many nations" in chapter 17 of Genesis. He promised she would give birth to a son, but Sarah was doubtful because she was starting to get older in age. Sarah encouraged her husband, Abraham, to have a child with their maid servant, Hagar. Hagar gave birth to a son named Ishmael. However, God fulfilled his promise with Abraham and Sarah gave birth to a son named Isaac. Isaac married Rebekah and then they gave birth to a son named Jacob. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are known as the “patriarchs” and are referred to often later in scripture.
Another key person in the Bible that God makes a promise with (which we will get into later) is Moses. Moses was an Israelite baby, released on the river in a basket, when the Pharaoh of Egypt had placed made a law saying all babies were to be drowned at birth. Moses was spared because he was found by the Egyptian princess. He was an Israelite, raised by a bunch of Egyptians. This is a huge deal because the Israelites had been slaves to the Egyptians for years and were treated horribly, and he was not killed at birth like the others. Moses eventually asked Pharaoh “let my people go.” Pharaoh denied Moses 10 times and each time God sent a plague. The plagues consisted of water turning to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and the killing of firstborn children. Eventually, Moses helped the Israelites escape. God redeemed Israel based on his promise with Abraham.
Moses makes it out and travel to Mount Sinai, where Abraham had been tested by God in Genesis. As he arrives, the Israelite people were faithful to God trusting him. Moses left them to be at the bottom of the mountain and traveled to the top of the mountain for 40 days. As he reaches the top of the mountain, God revealed himself to Moses by burning bush. The Bush/God spoke and said “I AM WHO I AM.” He gives Moses the ‘10 Commandments’- two stone tablets with ten on each. Commandment one through four (and five) discuss the rules or laws related to God. Commandment six through ten (and five) elaborate on the laws of or about one's neighbor (or other people). According to Professor Lundeen, “The purpose of the law was not to provide salvation but to establish the terms of the relationship between God and Israel.”
Israel continued a conquest of the land. They were at war again and again, gaining land, being conquered, and so on. This brings us to the book of Joshua, which is primarily about Israel conquering the promised land. This is partial fulfillment of the “place” promise that God made with Abraham. Joshua was known as the “new Moses” and was successful when obeying God and having faith. After Joshua is the book of Judges, which is very dark and full of bad times. The judges in Bible times were military leaders. There were 12 judges that continued in this same cycle: Israel sins, God hands them over to their enemies, Israel cries out, God raises up a judge, Israel is delivered, then the Judge dies. This cycle literally happens again and again.
Between Judges and 1-2 Samuel in the Christian Bible, is a story about a woman: one of the few women mentioned in the Bible, Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. These women were both widows. Ruth was a Moabite who was faithful and worshiped Yahweh. Naomi was an Israelite who went to Moab for ten years but was bitter to God. Ruth accompanies Naomi to Bethlehem because there was a famine, and they were in need of food. Then, enters a man named Boaz. He was a rich relative to Naomi, a “worthy man” who worshiped Yahweh. He notices Ruth because she is a hard worker and respected her loyalty to Naomi. They get married and she bares a child named Obed. She was a fantastic symbol of loyalty and devotion; in the way she loved Naomi and took care of her.
Another person who God had favor with, was David, also known as the “man after Gods own heart” and King of Israel. You would think David must have been nearly perfect, but that was not the case. David had an affair with a woman that he saw bathing on the roof, Bathsheba. He got her pregnant and had her husband killed. This is a really horrible thing but shows us that we are able to be forgiven and not expected to be perfect- which is impossible. God literally called him the “anointed one.” Then, God makes a covenant with David that is connected to the Abrahamic covenant. He promises him a “great name,” offspring, and land. This is important because the covenants build upon one another, and the Davidic covenant shows how the prior covenants will come to fulfillment.
“United Kingdom” refers to Saul, the first king, David, and Solomon. Solomon was responsible for the building of the temple in Jerusalem. He was the son of David, and beyond blessed. God offered him any gift, and he asked for wisdom. Therefore, God have him wisdom and an abundance of earthly treasures because of the content of his heart. Solomon is literally the richest man in history. He uses his ridiculous amount of wealth to build a temple, that would hold the Arc of the Covenant, or the presence of God. This temple was outrageous, with a beautiful garden, giant bronze pillars, gold, decorations, a porch, Holy Place, and Holy of Holies, etc. Here, sacrifices were made, and priests were able to enter the Holy of Holies after being made pure and clean.
Prophets were generally outcasts or social rejects. They determined the will of God for kings or rebuked them. They talked about the present and the future. Prophets are not necessarily what we would imagine them today. There are major and minor prophets in the Bible. Major does mean they are better than the minor, rather it just depends on the size of the book. The major profits are named Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. There are 12 minor prophets in the Bible, whose name is from Hosea to Malachi. The prophets would warn, encourage, or express the desires of God. Keep in mind, Israel is still at war. In 722 BC a Syria takes Israel into exile. In 586 BC Babylon took Judah into exile. In 589 BC Persia returned to the land. The temple was destroyed, and God's people did not have a home. This exile fulfilled many warnings that prophets had given in the past. Ultimately, Israel was at a low. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem from their exile in Babylon, they built a new temple. This temple was nothing in comparison to the temple that Solomon had built. This caused people to have a mix of emotions. Some were excited to finally have a temple, but others were sad and in tears because it was not the same (especially those who are old enough to see the first temple).
All of this happens in the Old Testament, and though it seems to be getting a little more positive, the two New Testament is far more encouraging. The New Testament begins with the Gospels, also known as the “Good News.” What is the good news? You will just have to wait and see! There are four Gospels that each tell the same story, from a slightly different perspective, making the message even more concrete and believable. In the Gospel of John, we learn about John the Baptist. He performs the Baptism of a man named Jesus and uses “simple language to convey complex truths.” Jesus was the son of a Virgin, Mary. He was born in a manger in a town called Bethlehem, fulfilling prophecy after prophecy in the Old Testament. He was born as God's gift to the world to be the Savior and Messiah. He was perfect, free of sin. He healed, walked on water, performed miracles, had a heart for the poor, and widows, and he loved all. Yet, he was hated. He was convicted of treason and was to be hung on a cross by way of Pontius Pilate. Pontius was the governor of Judea and called Jesus to be crucified after an angry crowd demanded, yet in his heart he did not think Jesus was worthy to be hung on a tree. Nonetheless, He was crucified, whipped, hung on a cross, stabbed in the side, and died. He was buried in a tomb, and after three dark days, He rose from the dead, as the perfect sacrifice. By God’s grace, and through his gift of his perfect and only Son, we are given the opportunity to have a relationship with him, to be seen as blameless, and have eternal life with him in heaven. Because of Jesus, we do not need to be separated from God anymore. The thick veil in the temple that separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom.
After a short time, Jesus ascended back into heaven, and asked his 12 disciples, and Christ Followers to go and share the “Good News” in the Great Commission. They proceeded to share the Gospel and Christianity was born. Many did not agree with this theology... some listened, some ignored, and some were angered. Paul was a Pharisee raised in Taurus who hated Christianity. He persecuted the church, and violently tried to put an end to those who spoke of what Jesus had done. Then, one day God appeared to him, blinding him and telling him to change his ways. God made a way for Paul to see again, and he was healed. This healing, and experience converted Paul. He became an apostle or “messenger” for the Good News of Jesus. He proceeded to write about 30% of the New Testament. Paul wrote 13 letters (seven prison epistles, three pastoral epistles, and six disputed epistles).
Nearing the end of the Bible, it mentions a “new heaven and a new earth.” This ideology is found in Isiah, 2 Peter, and Revelation. John was given detailed, specific, and odd visions of heaven. Revelation 21:1 says, "Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” This refers to the completeness, or last state of redeemed humanity where heaven is “city like.” This gets correlates with the “end times” and “coming again” of Christ. The story of the Bible comes full circle- fulfilled prophecies, promises kept, being separated then united with God, beginning at a creation, being made new with Christ, and then ending with the creation of a New Heaven and New Earth.
Comments