By now you’ve hopefully caught on to a few things about the Bible. First of all, anyone who says that the Bible is boring and irrelevant hasn’t read it! Already there’s been murder and deception, sibling rivalry, sex and heartache and danger. Themes ripped out of today’s headlines come alive in the stories we read about these ancient people.
And we’re just coming to the end of the first book!
Something else you’ve probably picked up on is that the people talked about in the Bible are real people. They’re not two-dimensional, cardboard cutouts who always get it right. They’re flesh and blood people who struggle with insecurity and anxiety and have mixed motives sometimes — just like the rest of us.
This is important, because it helps us see that their story is, in many ways, our story as well. Adam and Eve aren’t just people who lived a long, long time ago in a land far, far away. They’re us, trying to accept and live within the freedom-inducing boundaries set by our Creator.
Abraham and Sarah aren’t just the mother and father of the three major world religions. They’re us, called to live a life of adventurous, risk-taking faith in pursuit of the land our God has promised.
Joseph isn’t just a spoiled brat who hits rock bottom and makes a resounding comeback, saving his family and the destiny of the descendants of Abraham. He’s us, believing that God is with us in the darkest times, giving us discernment in the midst of confusion, empowering us to forgive those who have wronged us.
The Bible story is our story. We don’t just read it as an academic exercise, we read it to understand better the true nature of ourselves and the world in which we live.
Third and most important, though, you should know by now that the main character in the Bible is God. As tempting as it may be to read these stories and ask, “What does this tell me about me?” we must first stop to think about what these stories reveal to us about the character and nature of God. Otherwise, the stories become about the people of God instead of being about the God of the people.
When you look at it that way, the Bible reveals to us a God who is in charge, is incredibly creative, solves problems in roundabout ways, takes His own sweet time and manages to deliver His people in spite of overwhelming odds. In fact, it sometimes appears as if God prefers the hard way to the easy way. He doesn’t seem to be as interested in efficiency as we are, preferring to lead His people through a character-forming hardship more than along a comfortable, cushy path.
He even seems to prefer working with messed up people rather than someone who’s got it all together.
It’s rarely a straight line. It’s an adventure. But you’ve already figured that out by now, haven’t you?
Prayer
Lord, give me the illumination to see You more as You are rather than what I fancy You to be. I realise that all the stories in the pages of Your revealed Word point to You, Your character, Your ways, Your faithfulness, Your goodness, Your graciousness, Your patience, Your loyal love, Your creative purposes, and to the excellence of Your glorious attributes. Everything is about You and not us, yet You have chosen to make us the recipients of Your boundless grace. May I know You, and may I know myself in light of the knowledge of You. Your progressive revelation of Your person, powers and perfections illuminates my path and inspires me to walk in fidelity and obedience to You, and I ask for the empowerment by Your Holy Spirit to be fully obedient to all that You call me to be and do.
In Jesus’s name, Amen
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