For many people the Old Testament is a confusing bundle of random stories, poetry and prophetic writings. This site should help untangle the confusion. Using lots of explanation, Scripture and maps, I will help you understand how it all fits together, from the beginning in the Garden of Eden all the way to the start of the New Testament with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. And along the way I will stop for some very relevant and practical lessons for life today. This first post covers the book of Genesis.
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With Israel’s family back together again in Egypt they prospered and grew as guests of the Egyptian people. But as they grew, Egypt became fearful of their size and eventually forced the Hebrews into slavery. This is where this post picks up the Old Testament story and advances it to the point where they were free from the shackles of Egypt, but enslaved to their own faithlessness and as a result, wandered in the wilderness instead of enjoying the fruits of the Promised Land.
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During the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, everyone twenty years old and older died for their faithlessness and a younger generation grew up. It was this new generation that God would give the Promised Land to. But they had some problems of their own as they settled into Canaan. They struggled with completely riding the land of the Canaanites and passing their faith on to their children.
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At the end of Samuel’s life, the fourteenth Judge of Israel, the nation asks for a king. They got Saul. He was a great looking king on the outside, but he had some serious flaws on the inside. He was followed by David, Solomon and Rehoboam and then a national disaster occurred, the nation split in half.
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With Israel and Judah separate countries, they both experience a downward spiral spiritually. Eventually God brings judgment on both nations as a result. Within 330 years of the nation splitting, the Jews are out of the land, once again as subjects to a foreign power.
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The final chapter of the Old Testament story begins with the Jewish nation in exile, discouraged and defeated waiting for the day when God would allow them to return to their beloved Promised Land.
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