In the entire course of human history there has never been written, nor never will be written, a more important book than the Bible. Human authors who were under the direct “inspiration” or divine direction of God wrote the Bible. No other book can boast of such distinction, although many have tried.

The Bible is the complete revelation of God to mankind. It explains the origin of the universe and humanities place in it. Most importantly it clearly presents man’s relationship with God.

God’s words and instructions were given to mankind over the course of thousands of years as He stirred holy men to record them.

The collected revelations of God can be divided into two sections of the Bible, the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The expression, “Old Testament” does not designate that it is obsolete or inferior. Just as the expression, “New Testament” does not imply better or “new and improved.”

These expressions are used to divide the revelations of God before His Son Jesus came to earth as a man, and the revelations He gave after Jesus was born.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are dependant upon one another. The Bible would be incomplete if either were absent.

Many people skip over the Old Testament because they assume it is “old” and “irrelevant”.  In doing so they miss out on all of what God has revealed to man and they inherently come to the reading of the New Testament in mid thought. All of the foundation of the New Testament is laid in the Old Testament.

Understandably the Old Testament is intimidating. It contains 39 books and is nearly 70% larger than the New Testament, not to mention it covers a little less than 4,000 years of human history.

Because of its length, many people fast-forward to the “second act.” This is acceptable if time is devoted to understanding the key themes of the Old Testament before launching into a reading of the New Testament.

The following is an attempt to explain the Old Testament in such a way as to assist those who begin reading the Bible at the New Testament.

Throughout this explanation excerpts from the Old Testament will be provided to highlight key themes and events.

The opening chapter

Genesis is the first book of the Old Testament and therefore the first book of the Bible.

The name “Genesis” means, “beginnings”, a fitting name.

The very first statement we are given from God establishes everything.

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”

The ramifications of this verse are immeasurable because it establishes the eternal existence of God, the unlimited power of God, and the unquestioned authority of God.

Humanity is pre-occupied with un-locking the secret of man’s origin and they have spent countless years and dollars doing so.

God revealed to us the answer in the first 10 words of the Bible.

During the next few chapters of Genesis the specifics of creation are delineated and in every instance what God made was good. God’s creative work culminated with the creation of man.

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Humans are as different from other creatures as animals are from vegetables and vegetables are from minerals.

Yes, man is small compared with stars, planets and galaxies, but God has given him a unique and honored place in the universe.

This is seen in one of God’s first commands to man:

Genesis 1:28

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”

God created man to be His personal representative on earth, with authority over all other living creatures…

But man was also given special dignity.

Being created “in the image of God” does not mean that he was made the same size or shape as God. Nor does it mean that man was a miniature of God, possessing all His qualities but in small quantities.
 

It means that man was created as a spiritual, rational, moral and immortal being, with a nature that was perfect.

God placed Adam and Eve in a specially designed garden to work and live and play.

Genesis 2:15-17

 “And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

God also gave them a rule. This rule was simple to understand and not grievous to bear… Eat from any of the trees in this garden except for one.

Adam and Eve willingly obeyed this rule and enjoyed a glorious time fellowshipping with their God and Creator. The experience was truly paradise.

Trouble in paradise

One day Satan, (who was an angel created by God but who had rejected God’s sovereignty over him and therefore was cast down from his position in heaven), because he was angry at God, made his way to the garden where Adam and Eve lived.

Satan took the form of a beautiful serpent so as to influence Eve to disobey God.

Genesis 3:1-8

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.”

Satan lied to Eve by twisting God’s Words.

Because of his evil influence he caused Eve to think God was being unfair and withholding her from full knowledge and happiness.

The result was that Eve reasoned in her mind that God did not have her best interest in mind and she willingly ate from the forbidden tree. Then she gave it to her husband and he willingly ate as well.

Because of these actions sin entered into God’s perfect world.

Adam and Eve immediately knew the difference between right and wrong and they immediately knew that their relationship with God was severed.

Because of their knowledge of their sin they tried to cover themselves and hide from God.

They could not hide from God because God knew where they were and what they had done and sought them out.

Genesis 3:9-14

“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

Punishment for disobedience

Genesis 3:15-24

“14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. 22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

Because God is perfect and sinless He cannot tolerate sin.

Because of Adam and Eve’s sin He could not continue to meet and walk with them.

Because of their disobedience God removed them from the paradise they were living in and cursed them as reminders of their disobedience.

Man would now sweat and fight with the earth to grow food.

Women would now experience great pain in childbearing.

Because of their sin, two types of death entered into the world.

Physical death and Spiritual death.

Men and women would now physically die. Their lives here on earth would be temporal.

As horrible as physical death is, men and women were now also spiritually dead, that is, they could not have any relationship with God the Creator. And once their physical life was over they would be separated from God forever.

The love of God

God is sinless and cannot tolerate sin in His presence.

But God also loved humanity and longed for them to once again fellowship with Him.

Because of God’s justice He had to punish mankind. He could not overlook their sins.

Because of His mercy He gave Adam and Eve and the whole world His promise that one day, a descendant of Adam would come and pay the penalty of sin.

One day God would send a deliverer who would be humanity’s substitute.

Wickedness grows

After what happened in the garden human history changed forever. Mankind were now infused with evil and sought, as Satan did, to establish themselves as sovereign and independent of God.

As the population grew so the evil grew.

Because of this God declared that He was going to send a worldwide flood to destroy all of the wickedness on the earth. He called Noah, a righteous man, to build a large vessel, called an ark to spare sets of animals from the flood and to spare all humans who would turn from their evil ways.

No one accepted this offer except Noah’s own family.

As God had promised, a worldwide flood covered the earth and killed all animals and humans who did not enter the ark.

Once the waters receded the animals, Noah, and his family exited the ark and resumed their occupation of the earth.

God gave them a promise and symbolized it with the rainbow, that he would never again destroy the world by means of a flood. He also gave them more instruction on how to live and behave.

Genesis 9:1-7

“And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. 2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.”

Even though God had killed the wicked people and once again had given His commands, humanity still refused to follow Him because they still had the sin nature of Adam and Eve.

Generations rose up after the flood that had no interest in God and no desire to follow Him. They created their own “gods” and worshiped them.

Eventually they sought to gain access to heaven by building an enormous tower. This plan failed when God confused mankind by giving them many different languages. Neighbors could no longer communicate with one another and workers could not work together.

The people who spoke alike congregated with one another and migrated to different sections and established their own societies and system of “gods” drawing from the “gods” they had created while the earth still spoke one language.

This is why there is so much similarity to the “gods” of ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, and Roman empires.

God’s promise

Once these people groups separated and established their own “religions” God called a man to father a nation that would worship the true God. His name was Abraham and he was a friend of God.

God promised that Abraham’s descendants would number more than the sands of the seas. Abraham found this hard to believe because his wife Sara was barren and could not have children.

Even though Abraham was a friend of God, he still had the influences of sin in his life and so he sought to make God’s promise come to pass by himself.

Instead of waiting for God to miraculously allow his wife Sara to conceive a son, Abraham slept with Sara’s handmaid and she gave birth to a boy named Ishmael.

Ishmael was not the son promised by God and because Abraham chose to take matter into his own hands Ishmael and his descendants would be a thorn in the side of Abraham’s family.

God’s special people

Even though Abraham did not wait for God and trust He would provide a son, God was merciful to Abraham and still allowed Sara to have a boy. His name was Isaac.

Isaac and his wife had twin sons, Jacob and Esau. Esau was the “older” of the two having been born before Jacob, and so was the son who would receive the greater blessing but he did not value the blessing.

Jacob was blessed by his father and would go on to have many sons who, with their families, would make up the people group known as Hebrews or Jews.

One of Jacob’s sons, named Joseph was hated and envied by his older brothers. They hated him so much they conspired to kill him, and then decide to sell him to slave traders.

Joseph was taken to Egypt and sold as a slave. During the course of many years Joseph did what was pleasing to God. He avoided sinning and God blessed him.

Eventually Joseph was raised to second in command of all of Egypt because God gave him the insight to plan for an upcoming seven-year famine. 

Because of the severe famine the sons of Jacob, also referred to as the Israelites, journeyed to Egypt looking for food. When they arrived they did not recognize their brother, although he recognized them. He loved them and forgave them and had his family migrate to Egypt.

The book of Genesis ends with the account of Joseph’s death.

The remaining books of the Old Testament chronicles the history of the Israelites, details the extent of man’s sin nature as it was passed down from generation to generation, and reveals more information about the coming deliverer.

Slavery in Egypt

The Israelites enjoyed peace while in Egypt until a new Pharaoh came to power that had no connection to the Israelites.

Because the Israelites grew in number the Pharaoh saw them as a threat and enslaved them all. The nation was enslaved for 400 years.

God loved the Israelites, who He called His, “Chosen People” and sent a man to deliver them from the Egyptians. His name was Moses.

God, using Moses as a messenger, demanded that the Pharaoh free the Israelites or face His wrath. Pharaoh stubbornly refused and God sent plagues to torment the Egyptians. Moses again demanded that Pharaoh release the Israelites but once again Pharaoh refused.

Eventually God sent the plague of the death angel. The death angel would kill all the firstborn sons of those who did not follow God’s rules.

Pharaoh yet again refused to obey God and suffered the consequence.

The anniversary of this is still observed today by Jews. It is called Passover and it points back to the time God sent the death angel to kill all the firstborn sons of those who would not follow God’s rule.

Wandering in the wilderness

Once the Israelites were free from their bondage, God led them to the land He had promised Abraham.

Unfortunately, while traveling to the “Promise Land” the people complained and did not trust God would provide for their needs. Because of this, God caused them to wander in the wilderness for 40 years.

During this time in the wilderness, God always provided food and water even though the people complained.

God’s Law

It was also during this time that God gave the Israelites rules to obey that would help them live and cause them to be unique from all the other nations.

This law was extensive and dealt with matters of  sanitary food preparation, personal hygiene, civil matters, and religious instruction.

The touchstone of God’s law was referred to as “The Ten.” We commonly call them the Ten Commandments.

 
Exodus 20:1-17

“And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.”

These 10 commands dealt with man’s relationship with God and man’s relationship with his fellow man. They are of the utmost importance because they show us our sinful condition.

The Apostle Paul, In the New Testament book of Romans explains that the purpose of the Law was to show him exactly what sin was and that he was exceedingly sinful.

Romans 7:7-13
“7 ¶ What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.”

Occupying the Promise Land

Once the 40 years expired God allowed the nation to enter into the Promised Land. They would have many battles to fight, but God had promised to give the victory in all of them if they obeyed Him.

Unfortunately they became enamored by the false “gods” of their neighbors and followed and served them. Because of their willing disobedience they had to constantly deal with the nations around them. Often times they would become enslaved to these neighboring nations.

Because of God’s love and mercy He always sent a deliverer once the nation returned to obeying Him.

Eventually the people grew tired of constantly being invaded and wanted a king to protect them. They failed to realize the reason for the many invasions had nothing to do with their lack of a human king, but because they refused to obey God.

God in His ultimate wisdom allowed them to have a king but warned them that they would not get the results they wished for. Even though God warned them of the heartache’s they would have as a result of a king they still chose to have their own way.

Some kings were good and served the Lord, most notable is King David. David was a man after God’s own heart. He loved God and served God.

David was honored by being a part of the line of the deliverer God promised to Adam and Eve. He was used by God to write much of the book of Psalms and he had the privilege of revealing more information about the coming deliverer.

Psalms 22:1-18

“My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him. 9 But thou art he that took me out of the womb: thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mother's breasts. 10 I was cast upon thee from the womb: thou art my God from my mother's belly. 11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. 13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”

Israel continues to reject God

True to God’s promise most of the kings were wicked. They treated the people terribly and taxed them relentlessly.

The worse thing these kings did was lead the people to reject God and follow the false “gods” of the neighboring nations.

This greatly displeased God and He sent prophets to warn the people to turn from their wicked ways and return to following Him.

The people refused to listen.

As God used the prophets to warn the Israelites of coming judgment He also revealed to them more about the coming deliverer.

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Isaiah 53: 3-10

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. 9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. 10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. "

Micah 5:2

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”

These are only a few of the revelations concerning the coming deliverer. The Old Testament is filled with numerous descriptions and prophecies concerning Him.

Exile

Even though God’s special people, the Israelites, had received many promises from God concerning the deliverer, and had God’s law delivered unto them, and benefited from His longsuffering and mercy, they still rejected Him and chose to follow the false “gods” of their neighbors.

Because of this God exiled them by the hands of the Babylonians, Assyrians, and Medo-Persians.

Return to the land

Once they returned to the land they forsook their idolatrous practices. They no longer served the false “gods” of their neighbors.

Unfortunately, neither did they truly serve the Living God and Creator of the world.

They went through the motions of serving Him, but had no love for Him or respect for what He asked them to do. They saw His rules as burdens.

The last book of the Old Testament, Malachi, deals with the rotten attitude of the Israelites and warns them that the deliverer will come and if they do not follow Him they will suffer the eternal consequences. 

Silent years

God did not speak to the Israelites for nearly 400 years after Malachi was written and delivered to the people.

This time of 400 years is often referred to as the “Inter-Testimonial Period” because it takes place between the end of the Old Testament and the start of the New Testament.

During this time history shows us that many people tried to establish themselves as the promised deliverer… but they were all proven liars because they could not fulfill all the prophecies concerning the coming deliverer.

History also shows us that the religious leaders of Israel became more interested in the people admiring them and honoring them than the people following God’s rules.

The result was that when the promised deliverer came they wanted nothing to do with Him.

This attitude of spiritual apathy characterized the nation of Israel when the promised deliverer, Jesus, came.  

It was also during this “Inter-Testimonial” time that the Roman Empire was very powerful and had control of the then known world including the nation of Israel.

The coming of the promised Deliverer

Because of all the physical persecution, the nation was ready for a conqueror that would deliver them from the oppression of the Romans and bring back Israel to their glory.

What they failed to realize was their true need was not physical liberation, but spiritual.

Israel, as well as the world, was in bondage to sin and in desperate need of a Saviour.

Jesus was, and is, that Saviour. Jesus was, and is, the deliverer promised to Adam and Eve. And Jesus was, and is, the focus of the entire New Testament.

The New Testament

The first four books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are all eyewitness accounts of earthly life and ministry of Jesus.

They are complimentary to each other and present Jesus as the promised deliverer of the world.

The next book, Acts, is the early history of the true followers of Jesus. It chronicles the ministry of Peter, one of Jesus’ closest friends and disciples as well as Paul, a former Jewish religious leader converted to the truth and reality of Jesus.

The books following Acts are letters written to the followers of Jesus in different regions of the then known world.

They deal with practical issues facing humans and how God would have us live lives pleasing to Him.

The last book of the New Testament and therefore the Bible is titled “Revelation” and it deals with the end of the world and the culmination of time, as we know it.

Conclusion

The Bible is the history of God’s promised deliverer coming to earth. In the Old Testament the Saviour is anticipated and in the New Testament He is revealed.

My prayer is that as you read through the New Testament you will discover for yourself the reality of Jesus. I trust that you will see your need of His Salvation from your sins, and that you will accept His offer, and have your fellowship with God restored.