The Bible’s basic story line is laid down in the Torah, the first five books. Creation is the good beginning, worked into our memories with the rhythmic repetitions, “and God saw that it was good.” The promise land is the good ending as Moses leads the people up to the border of Canaan. In between is the catastrophe of the Fall, succeeded by the plot of salvation worked out in pilgrimage-from Eden to Babel to Ur to Palestine to Egypt to wilderness to Jordan and in fights with family, Egyptians and Canaanites. Character develops in Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses in big and small ways. The genealogies, the regulations, the social observations matter, all the details matter.
The story is repeated in the Gospels. The virgin birth is the good beginning. The Ascension is the good end. Catastrophe erupts in the Herodian massacre and threatens in the wilderness temptations. The salvation plot is worked out in the battle of the kingdom rule of God in the ministry of Jesus and the journey from Galilee to Jerusalem and in conflict with devils, disease, Pharisees and disciples. Character development happens in Peter, James and John. Much care is given to historical details-geography, Jewish feasts, conversations-not a sparrow goes unnoticed.
The story is told in the entire biblical telling. A good beginning in Genesis 1,2 followed by an even better ending in Revelation 21,22. In the middle is the catastrophic Fall and its persistent power through the beginnings and then throughout Israel’s story. But the salvation plot, beginning in Genesis 12 picks up steam, is affirmed and reaffirmed at Sinai and in David. It is worked out in the deliverances and battles of the Exodus from Egypt, the entrance into the promised land and finally by the coming of Immanuel to this earth. It is a sprawling story of battles and journeys over long stretches of time and in many places. The characters develop to play significant roles in the great drama. Everything has significance. At the end the last two chapters of the Great Story resonate with the first two chapters of the good beginning.
As his Body we now play our part in the unfinished drama of scripture!