Tied Together: A One-Year Journey Through the Bible | Day 1 | January 12, 2025

 

Introduction to the Old Testament

As you begin reading through the Old Testament, it helps to understand how this remarkable collection of writings fits together. The Bible isn't arranged in chronological order, which can make things confusing at first. Instead, the books are grouped into sections: the Books of the Law, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, and the Prophets. Understanding this structure—and when events actually occurred—will help you follow the stories, appreciate the struggles of God's people, and recognize the blessings they received along the way.

The Old Testament covers approximately 4,000 years of history, yet it was written over about 1,400 years by 27 different authors. These 39 books were originally recorded on surfaces including stone, wood, clay, papyrus, leather, and animal skins before eventually being written on paper.

Here's a brief overview of how the Old Testament unfolds:

The story begins with Creation in Genesis, a lengthy book spanning over 2,000 years. You'll encounter Adam and Eve, Noah, and then—though it appears later in your Bible—the events of Job actually take place during this early period. Genesis continues with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (whom God renamed Israel, giving us the term "Israelites"), and finally Jacob's twelve sons, who became the ancestors of Israel's twelve tribes.

One of these sons, Joseph, was sold to slave traders and taken to Egypt. Eventually, his family reunited with him there, escaping a devastating famine. Over time, the Israelite population grew dramatically, but when a new Pharaoh came to power, he enslaved them. Moses then emerged to lead the people out of Egypt through the dramatic parting of the Red Sea—events recorded in Exodus. An estimated 2 to 2.5 million people made this journey to Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

Despite everything God did for them, the Israelites sinned, complained, and ended up wandering the desert for forty years. Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy—all written by Moses—come from this period. Eventually, Joshua was chosen to lead the next generation into the Promised Land, while Moses died before entering it.

Once in the Promised Land, the territory was divided among the twelve tribes. God was their king, and judges were appointed to guide the people—leaders like Samson, Deborah, and Gideon. During this time, the Israelites fell into a repeated cycle: rebellion, discipline from God, repentance, deliverance through a judge, then rebellion again. The book of Judges records this pattern, while Ruth tells the story of a non-Jewish woman living during this same era.

Eventually, the Israelites demanded a human king, feeling that God alone wasn't enough—they wanted someone they could see. God gave them Saul, then David, then Solomon, as recorded in 1 and 2 Samuel. During this period, David wrote many of the Psalms, while Solomon authored Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

After Solomon died, his son Rehoboam treated the people harshly, causing the kingdom to split. Ten tribes formed the Northern Kingdom (called Israel), while two tribes formed the Southern Kingdom (called Judah). The books of 1 and 2 Kings and 1 and 2 Chronicles describe the roughly 400 years of divided monarchy that followed. Of the 39 total kings, only 8 were considered good—and all of them came from the Southern Kingdom.

During this era, God sent prophets to deliver His messages. Some prophesied to the Southern Kingdom (Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah), while others spoke to the Northern Kingdom (Hosea, Amos, Jonah). Eventually, the Northern Kingdom fell to Assyria, and its people were scattered. The Southern Kingdom survived longer but ultimately fell to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Obadiah all prophesied during this time of Babylonian rule. Jeremiah also wrote Lamentations, expressing the devastation of witnessing such destruction.

Fifty years later, Babylon fell to Persia under King Cyrus, who decreed that the Jews could return to Jerusalem. Three waves of returning exiles rebuilt the city and temple, led by Zerubbabel along with Ezra and Nehemiah. Haggai, Zechariah, and possibly Joel prophesied during this period. Meanwhile, Esther tells the story of a Jewish woman living in Persia among those who chose not to return.

Despite being rescued yet again, the people remained distant from God. The prophet Malachi delivered God's message of love while pleading with them to honor the Lord. But they didn't listen. After Malachi, God went silent for 400 to 450 years—until He sent the angel Gabriel to announce to a man named Zechariah that he would have a son who would prepare the world for the coming Messiah.

That incredible story awaits you in the New Testament

Scripture: 

Deuteronomy 7:9