The Epic Story of Redemption
The Bible is a sweeping narrative that spans the entire history of humanity, from Adam’s first breath in the Garden of Eden to the final song of the redeemed in eternity. It tells the story of kings crowned and deposed, nations created and destroyed, and dynasties raised up and brought to the ground. Through it all, God is carrying out his mind-blowing plan to save mankind from destruction.
Creation and the Fall
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). The Bible plants its flag firmly, asserting that God is the Almighty Creator, the Sovereign God of all the universe. However, Satan’s strategy is insidiously brilliant, and he approaches Eve by asking her a question, trying to get her to doubt God’s goodness and care for her (Genesis 3:6-7). Adam and Eve disobey God, casting off his authority, and throwing themselves and the world into open rebellion by their sin.
The Early History of Israel
God reestablishes his covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the world with a flood (Genesis 9:1). He makes a promise to Abram, declaring that he will make him a great nation and that all the families of the earth will be blessed because of him (Genesis 12:1-3). The eternal Word of God, the Son of God himself, comes to dwell among sinful human beings (John 1:14).
The Kingdom of Israel
God rescues his people from Egypt, demonstrating his power and judgment against the false gods of Egypt (Exodus 7:13). The people of Israel are free, but God takes steps to ensure they will never forget what he has done to save them (Exodus 13:18). The kingdom will be stripped from Saul and given to another because Saul’s heart is far from God (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
The Assyrian Conquest and Exile
The Assyrian conquest of Israel is total, and God uses them as his instrument of judgment against Israel (2 Kings 17:6). The people of Israel do secretly against the Lord their God, and the judgment has been a long time coming (Ezekiel 39:23).
The Return from Exile
Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the returned exiles, who strive to reestablish the capital city of Jerusalem, rebuild and purify its temple, and raise its wall from ruin (Nehemiah 1:8-9). At every step of the way, they face difficulty, not only from the outside but also from their own sin, fear, and lethargy.
The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus
Jesus performs miracles throughout his ministry, pointing John to the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah and to his own miracles in order to say, “Yes, I am the one” (Matthew 9:35). When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit (John 19:30).
The Spread of the Gospel
The disciples still do not quite understand the full universal implications of what Jesus accomplished through his life, death, and resurrection from the dead (Acts 1:8). Jesus tells the disciples that they will be his witnesses in Jerusalem and Judea, but also in Samaria and even to the end of the earth.
The End of History
The picture painted in Revelation 21-22 is nothing short of glorious. It is a restoration of Eden, but it is also so much more. Now the tree of life is not one tree but a whole orchard giving its fruit to all the nations of the world. And even more, the people of God do not merely walk with God in the garden; they see his face, and his name is on their foreheads, sealing them as his people forever and ever.
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