Seeing the History of God's Interaction with People
From the creation story in Genesis 1–2 to the final words of Revelation, the Bible is all about God and His loving interaction with humankind. Scriptures tell us how God has blessed, cursed, loved, and redeemed and saved men and women in spite of their rebellion, and also all about how God brought into the world a Savior who could make that redemption and salvation possible.
But why exactly is it important to know the Biblical history of God';s interaction with people? Because those accounts stand as examples — both negative and positive — for us today of how God responds to us as humankind in general and as individuals.
Remembering is a big theme in the Bible. God wanted His people, the Israelites, to remember how He had brought them out of captivity in Egypt. He continually called them to remember that chapter in Jewish history because He wanted His people to remember His blessings and faithfulness as well as the consequences of their disobedience.
The apostle Paul wrote, “All these events happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us, who live at the time when this age is drawing to a close” (1 Corinthians 10:11). These “events” Paul was writing about were the sins of the Jewish people who had left bondage and slavery in Egypt and were on their way to the Promised Land as well as the punishment they received because of their disobedience.
God wants us to know the history of His interaction with His people. He wants us to observe all the promises, warnings, blessings, and punishments they received and what led to those things. He wants us to observe these things and see what pleases Him, what angers Him, what grieves Him, and what moves Him to action on our behalf.
When we know those things, we get a better peek into the character of God, into what He expects and desires from those who follow Him in faith.
