History
The Bible can help all people develop a more well-rounded view of history. It is not a book of fictitious events and peoples. Instead, it documents many ancient, historical events. As the science of archaeology develops and excavations continue more and more evidence for the Bible’s accuracy is unearthed.
Many basic questions can be answered by Bible students. For example, where did we come from? Genesis 1 indicates our origin. We do not need to promulgate alternative theories to answer this question. Why are there so many different languages and races? The events at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 answer this common question. God confounded the languages and it led to a variation of races.
We can also have a better understanding as to why the Jews and Arabs are often at war by studying the Old Testament. It began, in part, with Abraham’s two sons, Isaac and Ishmael, from whom came two great nations (Genesis 21).
The Old Testament documents the history of the early patriarchs, judges, kings and prophets. The New Testament records the life of Jesus Christ and His church. Historically speaking, Jesus is the most influential character of western civilization.
Yet, perhaps more important than these individual, isolated events is the general message of history the Bible presents. Since “history repeats itself” it is vital to be familiar with God’s lens of history as it will cause us to shape our worldview through God’s perspective.
Look at some basic Bible history. The first people, Adam and Eve, were cast out of the Garden for disobeying God (Genesis 3). The evil world in the days of Noah were destroyed by water for their rebellion to God (Genesis 6). The Canaanite nations were cursed for their godless immorality and Israel was exalted as a nation (Genesis 9:20-27). Yet, eventually, Israel turns its back on God and also fails as a nation due to their disobedience (Deuteronomy 28). In 70 A.D. the holy city of Jerusalem was completely destroyed in an act of judgment upon the Jews who killed Jesus (Matthew 23,24). The last book of the Bible, Revelation, is an apocalyptic pronouncement of judgment upon the Roman Empire for their persecution of Christians.
Do we see the historical repetition? It is summarized in Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Seeing this maxim’s truth in history may be the key to preserving our children and nation’s future.
“Since
'history
repeats itself'
it is vital to be
familiar with
God’s lens of
history as it
will cause us
to shape our
worldview
through God’s
perspective.”
November 2008