Hebraic Musing – What Makes the Torah Easy and Fun to Read?
Why do we like drama, sci-fi, and mystery thriller stories,
books and movies? They share a common
theme – tension. We even watch sport
events and chase scenes because we tensely anticipate an ending wondering how
will the hero or good guys come out of this one? Who will win?
How will this end?
Do you remember the first time you read about Abraham taking
his promised son, Isaac, up the mountain to sacrifice him? Without reading or knowing ahead, there is a
buildup of tension. Forget how it ends
for a moment, just read the buildup – “Then
God said (to Abraham), ‘Take your
son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah.
Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you
about.’ Early the next morning Abraham
got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son
Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the
place God had told him about.” Gen 22:2-3 NIV Feel
the tension? You can’t stop reading
yet!!! How will the hero get out of this
one? We know they both have to, but how? (Good reading!)
How many more tension building situations do the various
biblical characters find themselves facing?
Here’s just a sampling of problems our OT heroes encountered: How many more have you found?
·
God sees His people building a tower to heaven.
·
Abraham develops a plan of his own and goes into
his wife’s servant…
·
Moses kills an Egyptian and gets found out! And
has to flee…to where?
·
Israelites fleeing from Pharaoh find the Red Sea
is blocking their flight!
·
David takes on a glistening, taunting giant!
·
David is attracted to a bathing beauty and
starts an inappropriate relationship…
Classic story-writing style puts the hero in trouble with no
obvious way out and we watch him/her squirm.
We long to see the hero, the good guy, find the way out, solve the
problem, escape, outrun the bad guys and find the surprise solution. Most of all we heave a sigh of relief when
life returns to normal for the hero as the situation is resolved, especially when
resolved in their favor and they receive a bonus blessing in the end.
Personal application – Do we find ourselves personally relating
to these Bible characters and their experiences, temptations and challenges
they face? Can we see ourselves going
through very parallel challenges in our lives?
Just like God’s biblical peoples, we go through times and seasons of
vacillating between worship, sinning, trying to atone, idol-worshipping,
lusting, re-dedicating, searching for forgiveness, etc. That’s life!
There is an over-arching theme of the Bible. We cannot nor dare not stop reading at the end
of the OT while we are fully convinced of a need for a final and complete
solution to the tension of un-fulfillment in our lives. Therefore the need for the NT!
Happy ending – Life is full of tensions, but ♫When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound,
and time shall be no more,… When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. ♫
Points
to ponder
When reading the Bible, how
often do you personally relate to the saga being depicted?
How does the over-arching saga
of the Bible end?
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.” Ps
119:105
Yosef a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd September
2, 2017
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