Understanding the Biblical Story

Gain a greater understanding of the biblical story and its implications on scripture and your own life. Learn about creation, the fall, the flood, the Babel tower, the promise of God, and the kingdom of God.

Running head: UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLICAL STORY
Understanding the Biblical Story
Student’s Name
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Understanding the Biblical Story
The bible the source of the Christian faith. It is analogous to a constitution that guides
the beliefs and actions of Christians. Throughout the semester, I have gained a greater
understanding of the biblical story. In addition, I have learnt several lessons from that story.
These lessons are important to my life as a student. Genesis, the first book of the bible, starts
with the story of creation. This has helped me learn that we are God’s creation. It has helped
me appreciate the sovereignty and loving nature of our God. This paper will focus on the
biblical story. In addition, the paper will focus on the implications it has had on my
understanding of scripture and the understanding of my own life.
Creation
Genesis, the first book of the bible, begins with the story of creation. God created
everything through his word. He created the universe and all that is in it in a total of six days.
on the seventh day, he took some rest. God was happy with everything that he created.
Learning about creation has helped me gains a better understanding of the biblical story. I
have learnt that the bible is organized in a systematic manner. The books of the bible aim at
demonstrating the greatness and sovereignty of God. I also learnt that it is God who created al
things and that he was satisfied with His creation. Through the story of creation, I have that
God is all powerful and that he is able to do all things. Human beings live by the grace that
God has bestowed upon them. I have also learnt that God is so loving and he wants a human
being to live a happy and a productive life. The story of creation has also helped me to have a
better understanding of my life in the context of the biblical story. For instance, I have learnt
that I was created by God. Through creating me, God had a divine plan and purpose for my
life. I have also learnt that I live because of the grace of God. Were it not for that grace, I
would not survive one more minute.

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Fall
The second and third chapters of the bible focus on the fall of man. When God created
man, he placed him on the garden of Eden. He saw that he was lonely and created Eve to
keep him company. God had given Adam instruction that he should not eat a fruit from the
tree of life. Eve was lured by the serpent to eat the fruit of this tree. In addition, he lured
Adam into eating it. This is how disobedience and sin started in the world. The chapters also
tell the story of Cain who hated his brother and eventually killed him. The main reason for
the killing was jealousy. Learning about the fall of man has helped me to understand the
biblical story in clearer manner than I did before. Specifically, I have understood how sin
came into the world and God’s divine way of restoring human kind to him through the
promise of His son. His son would be sacrificed for the sin of all men. through the chapter, I
have also understood my life better in the context of the biblical story. For instance, I have
known where I derived my sinful nature as a human being. In addition, I have learnt that God
loves me so much because he was not happy about the fall of man. This love made him give
his own son Jesus for redemption of the world.
Flood
The descendants of Cain were so sinful that they angered God. Due to the great level
of sinning that was in the world, God decided to destroy the earth will all its sinners.
However, since he is a merciful God, He decided to save Noah and his family. The world was
destroyed by floods. Noah was told to build and ark. He and his family would stay in the ark
until all the water that God sent in the world had subsided. After the floods, God made a
promise that he will never again destroy the world through a flood. Learning the story of
Noah has helped me gain a better understanding of the bible. It had made me realize that God
is merciful and just. I have also learnt that the flood was sent to the earth due to the Cain’s

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descendants who were very sinful. There several implications of this biblical story in my life.
first, I have learnt that God hates sin. In addition, he is so merciful and gracious that he
cannot neglect any person who trusts in him. Therefore, I understand that the best way to live
according to the will of God is to obey him and keep away from sin. I have also learnt that
God is just. He is a just judge. Although, he punished sinners, he spared his servant Noah.
Babel Tower
As discussed above, God decided that he will never again destroy the earth by flood.
After all the sinful generation had died, only Noah and the family were left. This would be
described as the righteous of God. Sometime later, however, the descendants of Noah
disobeyed God. They became so unruly that they even wanted to build a tower that would go
beyond the sky. The tower was built at Babel. When they were building the tower, God made
them speak in different languages so that they would not understand each other. This way, the
building was halted. This story has helped me understand the sovereignty of God and the
great ability that he had since the beginning of creation. To my own life, I have learnt that
since God is able to do all things, I can ask from him what I require. He gladly provides to his
people. I have also learnt that I cannot deny that there is God and neither can I equate myself
to him. Anyone who blasphemes against God hated their own soul and anyone who equates
himself to God is foolish. In addition, anyone who says that there is no God lacks
understanding. This historical account of events shows that there is God who is able to do all
things. The God of the bible is no harsh and bad. Rather, he is kind and loving. He welcomes
any person to his kingdom.
Promise of God
The will of God is that human beings obey him and turn from their sinful nature. God
has demonstrated repeatedly that his nature is that of love and kindness. In the 12th chapter of

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Genesis, we learn the great importance of having faith in God. Faith could be defined as the
ability to believe in what one has not seen. God call Abraham and tells him to move to the
land that he will show him. Abraham obeyed without question. He is shown the land. Due to
his faith in God, he is promised numerous descendants. In addition, God promises to bless
him. God tells Abraham to sacrifice his own son Isaac. This was aimed at testing his faith in
God. When he showed that he would do anything that God asked, his son was spared and a
ram for sacrifice was provided by God. The story has helped me appreciate that God treasures
faith. Faith has been of key focus both in the old and new testaments. Since I am a Christian,
this story impacts me in one great way, that is, I should have unwavering faith in God.
Anyone who does not have faith is like a ship in the sea that is being tossed around by the
wind. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.
Kingdom of God
God established his kingdom through the promises that he made to Abraham. There
are several unique things that we learn about the kingdom of God from genesis. One of these
is that God must fulfil his promises. Unlike man who may fail to honour a promise, God can
never fail to honour a promise that he made. Let us look at two examples to reveal this. One,
God promises Abraham many descendants. Although Abraham and his wife were old, God
honoured his promise through blessing them with a son. Secondly, God promised Abraham
great descendants. This came to pass. The descendants of Abraham became as many as the
stars of the sky. Another nature of the kingdom of God is that it does not require
professionals. God is so powerful that he has the ability to qualify whoever he chooses. A
good example is Abraham who used to sell donkeys. Abraham’s father used to sell idols. In
fact, Abraham hailed from Babel, a place where people had sinned against God. The final
characteristic that I have learnt about the kingdom of God is the importance of faith. Any
person who lack faith cannot please God. God is happy with people who have faith in him.

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This understanding of the kingdom of God through the biblical story will help me make
important decisions in my life as a Christian. First, I will learn to have unwavering faith.
Secondly, I will trust all the promises of God. Lastly, I will endeavour to live in accordance
with the will of God.
End of Genesis
The last part of Genesis presents the story of Joseph. He is sold by his brothers to
Egypt. Since the favour of God was upon him, he became the prime minister of Egypt after
staying there for some time. Through the readings I have learnt why we do not mention
Joseph when we talk about God. We generally talk of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The reason why Joseph is not mentioned is because there was no direct covenant between
him and God. The story of Joseph helps show the nature of God’s favour. A person who is
favoured by God will survive many hurdles in life. In fact, God may use those hurdles to the
benefit of his favoured one. Since God is merciful and loving, he cannot chase any person
who trusts him from his presence. As a Christian, the story of Joseph encourages me to live a
righteous life and to love God with all my heart. Were it not for God, I would not be where I
am today. Since God has a divine plan to draw all human kind back to him, I must endeavour
to join him in his divine work as instructed by the bible. The bible is the principle text for all
Christians and it gives us an understanding of the nature of the kingdom of God. As a
Christian, I will endeavour to read the bible more often so that I can have a better
understanding of the scriptures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the biblical story learnt throughout this semester has helped me
understand the bible more. In addition, it has helped me get a better understanding of my life
both as a student and as a Christian. Through the story, I have learnt of how God created the

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world and all that is in it through his word. God was happy with all that he created. This has
helped me appreciate that we are all part of the creation of God. Due to this, we are brothers
and sisters in his kingdom. I have learnt to treat every person as a daughter or son of God. I
have also learnt about how the descendants of Cain sinned against God and how they were
destroyed by flood. I have learnt that God is just and cannot leave any person who trusts in
him. Through the tower of Babel, I have learnt that it is futile to try disregard God. He is
powerful and judges people according to their actions. He is also merciful and loving. The
God of the bible honours his promises as the story of Abraham reveals. In addition, he can
call any person he wishes to. This is because he has the ability to qualify anyone that he calls.
Genesis ends with the story of Joseph. This story provides an understanding of what it is like
to be favoured by God.