What’s Your Favorite Bible Story?

Recently, I heard someone talking about their favorite Bible story. As I began to contemplate what my favorite story is, my mind quickly jumped from story to story.

As a child, I loved story of Isaac and Rebekah. I guess I’ve always been a romantic at heart. I remember hearing this story in Sunday School one day when I was six years old. I came home, took my Bible, and began to read. I guess the story of Isaac and Rebekah is the one that started my Bible reading habit.

As a single adult, one thing I found fascinating in this story was how Isaac was just going about his normal business when God brought Rebekah to him (Genesis 24:63). I was firmly convinced God would bring someone to me as I chose to wait on Him, to go about my life trusting God for my future (and He did!).

I also love the story of Ruth and Boaz. More of that romantic in me! Again, this one resonates with me in so many ways! Remembering that life comes in seasons–whether a season of trial or a season of peace or a season of singleness. I love how God provides for Ruth and Naomi in the midst of their loss. And I love how God redeems everything they had lost! He took someone who had been through so much pain and brokenness and put Ruth in the lineage of the Savior! What a Redeemer! (Ruth 1-4)

Of course, no one can forget the story of Daniel in the Lions’ Den. Daniel’s faith stands as an example for all of us! He had determined in his heart to walk in obedience (Daniel 1:8) from the time he was taken as a captive in Babylon. His heart was completely devoted to God, and God protected him.

As we talk about Daniel, we also have to remember his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Just like Daniel, these three men, dragged away as captives, set their sights on obedience and devotion to God. Even in the face of certain death, they proclaimed their faith in God. “Our God is able to save us,” they exclaimed. “But even if He doesn’t, our hearts are totally His!” (Daniel 3:16-19 paraphrased). Oh to have the faith of those three in the midst of this life!

Who can forget the story of David and Goliath? Here’s a little shepherd boy, a little nobody in the eyes of the world, and God ushers him onto the biggest stage! In front of everyone, his faith shines as he proclaims no one will mock his God the way these Philistines have been! With nothing but the most rudimentary weapon, he steps up and takes out the giant. In an instant, his fame spreads across the land (1 Samuel 17).

There are so many more David stories, I would be remiss not to give him more time. Even though he is known as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), he’s definitely not perfect. We have to reflect on the story of David and Bathsheba. Probably few would claim this one as a favorite, but even in David’s biggest moral failure, we find the mercy of our Savior. David was supposed to be at war with his troops (2 Samuel 11:1), but instead was on the rooftop of his palace. He saw the beautiful Bathsheba and his lust got the best of him. It was one wrong step after another until he was guilty of adultery and murder. His actions show how one wrong action leads to another as we attempt to cover our sins. Do you know what I love about this story though? Despite the beginnings of David and Bathsheba’s relationship, it was a child from their union, Solomon, who was chosen to be the lineage that remained on the throne. It wasn’t David’s oldest son. It wasn’t a child from his first wife. It was Solomon, the child of his illicit lover. You see, God is a God of total and complete forgiveness. When hearts truly turn to him in repentance (Psalm 51), He washes those sins away as if we had never sinned. No one will ever convince me that God cannot bless a second (or third) marriage!

Although for years, I didn’t fully understand the story about Jacob wrestling with God, it has become one of my favorites. Years ago as I read through the story (Genesis 32), I realized that it was a pivotal moment in Jacob’s life. As you read scripture closely, you will see that until the wrestling match, Jacob always refers to God as the God of my fathers. It’s not until he meets God face-to-face and wrestles with Him that Jacob begins to refer to God as my God. So many of us live our lives in our safe little Christian bubble (I know I did), but it’s not until we have to wrestle through the trials of this life that our faith becomes real and we truly understand the intimacy we were meant to experience with the Father. I know that was my experience.

While we are on the subject of trials, who can forget Job. Job’s life fell apart with wave after wave of trauma, and his response was to fall to his knees and worship (Job 1). Why Job? Because he was a righteous man. You see, trials deepen our faith (if we choose to allow God to do His work in the midst of the pain). God knows who will be faithful to walk through the trials of this life. And when we choose to let Him do His work, we get to exclaim with Job that before we had heard of God but now we know Him (Job 42:5)!

Oh my goodness! I’m running short. There are so many more of my favorite stories! We are going to see the story of Esther play out at Sight and Sound Theater in Branson in a couple of weeks. There’s the story of Samson. Who could neglect the faith of Noah. And of course, the greatest story ever told, the story of Jesus!

But I would be remiss not to mention Joseph. Chosen by God. Betrayed. Sold into slavery. Raises to leadership before being betrayed again. Thrown into prison. Forgotten by man–but not by God. Brought to leadership at just the right time. Credited with saving multiple nations, including the line of Jesus. Total and complete forgiveness of the brothers who attempted to murder him. (Genesis 37-50). Joseph is an example of perseverance under the most trying and unfair circumstances. He is an example of grace and forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it. I still have unanswered questions (did the brothers ever confess to Jacob they were responsible for Joseph’s disappearance?), but one day I will have the answers. Suffice it to say that God used Joseph and continues to use his story today.

What about you? What’s your favorite story? Honestly, I don’t think I could ever narrow it down to just one story. But we have to remember they aren’t just stories! They are the living, breathing Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16). We can’t just read these stories and move on. We have to read them and let them speak to us, speak to us about our lives and how we should live. I guess that’s why I can’t choose just one. Every story in scripture has spoken to me at some point in my life. It has corrected my heart, given me peace, shown me a new way to live.

And I pray the Word of God continues to be alive and active in my heart–and in yours!