It has been said many times that the Bible is library of books, not merely a single volume. This is true. But it is also more than a library of books. It is a library of adventure, of drama, of tragedy and mystery, of love and war, of heroism and villainy, of literature and laws, it is a library of miracles and science and philosophy and more. And all of these elements, stretched out over a period of fifteen hundred years across three continents were written by over forty individuals in three languages. All of these elements are intricately woven together in the most marvelous fashion to tell the Greatest Story Ever Told.
In the Bible we have some of the greatest adventure stories ever told. Here we have the story of Abraham, who traveled from his home in Ur of the Chaldees, to his God appointed home in Canaan. Also, the story of righteous Noah, who was chosen by God to save the world from total destruction and his year long odyssey in the ark. Then there is the story of Moses leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage to the land of promise and Joshua’s equally exciting conquering of the promised land. We could tell of Jonah’s reluctance to preach to Nineveh and his unusual adventure in the belly of the great fish. Daniel in the lion’s den and the Hebrew children. The story of Ruth is as compelling as any in the Bible and in the New Testament, we have the apostle Paul’s evangelistic tours and his trials in preaching the gospel.
For unparalleled drama we have the jealous treachery of Cain against his innocent, unsuspecting brother Abel. The challenges that face Moses as he led the children of Israel through the wilderness and the deliverance of the Ten commandments, keep your attention from start to finish. The timeless story of courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds is the story of David and Goliath and David’s relationship with king Saul is drama at its best, and historically true at the same time. In the New Testament, the birth of Christ is one of the most well known, most compelling historical narratives in the world and Jesus’ parables are powerful stories illustrating moral and spiritual truths.
As for treachery, the Bible records it. Joab, in pretense of greeting Amasa, a rival general, while embracing him, smote him under the fifth rib, causing his guts to spill out on the ground. The Bible is, at times, very graphic in its reporting of history. Another vile act of treachery was Joseph’s brothers, at first intent on killing him, then settling on selling him into slavery. In another instance, Ehud, a champion of Israel, visits the obese king of Moab, Eglon, under the pretense of bringing him a gift, and stabs him and escapes through the porch. And in the New Testament, we can’t forget those who plotted to kill the apostle Paul. But even more than this, the notorious treachery of Judas, who betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver.
Tragedy is abundant in the biblical narrative. Think for instance of the House of Saul. Saul literally stood head and shoulder above all others in Israel. He was a reluctant leader but showed great promise. Yet, he always managed to do the wrong thing and in the end he was rejected because he had rejected the word of the Lord. Then, of course, you can’t overlook the tragedy and triumph of Job. He lost everything in his life that meant anything to him except his faith in God and God rewarded him with more than he ever had.
The Bible is full of mystery also. Maybe not the kind the world generally thinks of, but it contains some of the greatest mysteries the world has ever known. There is the mystery of life: God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul. There are the Theophanies of the Old Testament. We think we know it all. But God says: “Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me” (Job 40:7). There is the mystery of the incarnation where God came down clothed in humanity (I Tim. 3:16). And then the resurrection of Christ and our own future resurrection. There are many things we can know, but the secret things belong to the Lord (Deut. 29:29).
There are accounts of love. The love of Abraham for Sarah, Isaac for Rebecca, Jacob for Rachael, Ruth for Boaz, David for Bathsheba, and the tragic love of Samson for Delilah. The Song of Solomon is a wonderful poem of love and it portrays the Lord’s love for His bride, the church. On the other side, there are stories of warfare. The great Battle of Jericho, the Battle f Ai, the conquest of Hazor, of the Southern Confederacy against the Northern Alliance in the Vale of Siddim, Gideon and the Midianites, the constant wars between Israel and the Canaanites, the Battle of Gibeah, the Civil War of Israel, and the battle against Assyria and Babylon.
There are accounts of heroism. Noah, who walked with God and built an ark to save his family and animals from the flood. Abraham, who had a covenant with God and was willing to sacrifice his own son, Isaac. Jacob, who became the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. Mordecai, who saved his people from a plot to destroy them. Joseph, who forgave his brothers and saved his family from famine. There is also David and Moses and Caleb and Joshua. There were female heroes in the Bible like Deborah and Dorcas and Esther and Mary.
There are villains in the Bible aplenty. Few can match the villainy of Ahab and Jezebel. There is Nimrod, the self-proclaimed “mighty hunter before the Lord.” There is wicked Haman who tried to enact genocide of the descendants of Abraham. Absalom who turned against his own father, king David, and conspired to take over the kingdom. Athaliah, the Herods and Judas surely finds a place in the Hall of Villainy. But, of course, there is that old serpent, the devil who tops out the list.
There is great literature in the Bible. There is history, poetry, law, letters and prophecy. The Bible contains matchless poetry like the 23rd Psalm, Job and the Song of Solomon. Paul’s discourse on love is beyond compare. The Lord’s Sermon on the Mount cannot be matched. The Ten Commandments are the greatest set of laws the world has known but Jesus’ Golden Rule sums up the most powerful principle of human relationships possible. There are miracles, philosophy and science in the Bible and much, much more.
All of these stories, all of these elements, are interwoven into the most beautiful composition ever conceived. It reveals little by little, piece by piece the grandest scheme of the greatest Story Ever Told. It is the story of redemption and salvation and forgiveness. It is a story of grace and mercy. But it is a story of obedience and submission. It is the only story of hope and victory. That is the adventure of the Bible.
Eric L. Padgett