The Story of God Summary of the OT

God created Adam and Eve for His glory. Psalm 19.1 They were created to rule the earth for God. Genesis 1.26-28 Rather than submit to Him, they rebelled against Him. Genesis 3 The conflict between Satan and God, played out in the Garden, resulted in the earth being cursed Everyone knows the world is “broken.” It’s the cause and cure that are debated

God did not only bring the curse; He promised blessing But the blessing itself would come only through judgment: Genesis 3.15 From this time forward, the world will be divided into two groups—the seed of the Serpent, and the seed of the Woman The conflict continues as Cain kills Abel

And the increase in population didn’t improve the earth, but only facilitated the spread of evil. Genesis 6.1-6

God spared the world for His glory But Noah found grace. Gen. 6.8 God destroyed most of humanity with a flood, and preserved Noah, with whom He made a covenant. Genesis 9.1-17 The preservation of the human race is an important commentary on God’s grace: humans had not changed in the years since their creation

God confused the world for His own glory The descendants of Noah came to the same end as the descendants of Adam: God’s enemies Rather than destroy all humans, God scattered them, and then entered into a covenant with Abraham. Genesis 12

But the promises made to Abraham seem unreal—at the end of his long life (175 years: Genesis 25.7)—he has no land, and 1 son eligible for the promise The 1 son’s family became 70 people, before they moved to Egypt. It was in Egypt that they became a large nation. Exodus opens with an account of the seed of the woman in conflict with the seed of the Serpent.

God led His people out of Egypt for His glory Exo 15:1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. Leading His people toward the promised land, a new Eden awaits

But first they must learn what it means to have God live among them But first they must learn what it means to have God live among them. So there is a covenant, and a Tabernacle, and a book of instructions about life and worship Joshua explains the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham of land Yet instead of ushering in a new Eden, the Israelites began to practice false religion

This brought about the period of Judges—a time when God delivered his people to their enemies until they repented of their idolatry And provides God the “opportunity” to introduce the necessity of a King. Judges 17.6; 21.25, I Samuel 8 Victory over the Serpent will come through a king, and Ruth bears the ancestor of David

I and II Samuel tell the story of King David Saul, his predecessor, acts just like Adam and Eve—he rebels against God and proves himself seed of the serpent (his attempts to kill David are mirrors of Satan’s attack on Abel through Cain). David’s son Solomon defects to idolatry, and the kingdom is divided

God removes Israel from the land for His own glory The prophets describe the life of the covenant people as they (most of the time) disregarded the covenant But the promise of blessing—to Adam, through Noah, through Abraham, and through David, has not been removed—God will restore Israel to the land. Jeremiah 25.1-14

God restores Israel to their land for His own glory At the end of the OT The promises to Abraham, while not entirely fulfilled, have not been withdrawn There is a new Exodus—back to the land of promise. Jeremiah 31.1-17 There is the promise of a new covenant. Jeremiah 31.27-40