The Main Character

Genesis 1:1

Let’s read together:

בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ

In the beginning, (he) (singular masculine verb for) created (finally the subject) God… the heavens and the earth.

Why am I bothering to show you this?

1. The Bible was not written about you and me...

a. This part of the bible was written almost 3500 years ago

b. It was written to Israelites, a semetic people in the middle east.

c. As Moses was writing or having this written, He did not have you and I in mind. He had no idea there would be a United States of America, or a Covenant Life Baptist Church.

d. But God did!!!! Yes he did. I’m speaking from a human perspective. The Bible was inspired by God

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Second Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

a. So it’s inspired by God… and written through human writers. So the Bible especially here wasn’t written to you or about you… but it was written for you.

The Bible was not written about you and me… but it was written for us.

Why is this important? Don’t come to the Bible trying to find yourself. Let the Bible show you rather than force your life experience into it.

One of the biggest examples:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope… Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

iii. This doesn’t mean you’re going to get that job

iv. You need to dig into these promises to see what’s going on: God promising exiled Judah that they’ll be brought back to their land someday and have a better relationship with Him.

v. As that is the case, this is a promise that God won’t reject His people (plural) and will be faithful to the promises He has made to THEM as a whole.

vi. You could argue that you can make it true about you individually… but what Has God actually promised you? Or what have you made up?

vii. See the danger? People have walked away from God and faith because stuff happened that made them think God isn’t “for” them anymore, putting promises into God’s mouth that He never made.

viii. I want you to have a strong and vibrant faith that trusts God for what He actually says.

a. So the Bible wasn’t written ABOUT or TO us but was written FOR us.

b. So what do I do with the Bible? It’s for me but not written directly to me or about me. It’s separated from me by a few thousand years at best and several cultures. How can I understand it?

2. I can grow in my understanding of the Bible with study and meditation.

a. Study: dig deeper.

i. There are resources to help you understand the context.

ii. You need to figure out what this passage meant to those who experienced it.

b. Meditation: Take the time to consider, roll it over in your mind, talk about it with others.

c. And Often:

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 ESV

e. buckle in. This is a lifelong process.

But it’s worth it.

As you do this you’ll discover the Bible to be about one person. Not you, me, not the Jews.

3. The Bible is all about God.

a. Most books introduce the main character within the first couple of paragraphs.

b. Moses gives us the main character of His writings in the first sentence.

c. Appropriate: He’s the one doing it all.

d. From the first sentence to the last sentence it’s all about what God is doing. It involves what humans do but only in respect to what God is doing. It’s really all about him.

i. It’s not about you

ii. It’s not about me

iii. It’s all about God

e. Imagine coming to the Bible like this. God is speaking, has a plan, and is acting.

i. Read to know what God wants more than to find out what to do

ii. Read to know what God does more than what I should do

f. Imagine treating church like this. God is speaking, has a plan, God is acting.

i. There’d be so much less drama in churches these days if we together were working on God’s plan.

ii. If we recognized that God is acting and inviting us to join him.

iii. If we strove to listen together more.

g. Imagine living daily life like this. God is speaking, God has a plan, God is acting.

i. “Everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to.”

ii. God is in charge, isn’t he? And what is he doing?

iii. The whole story from this verse on is God making a relationship with people. Flawed, non-main character people. Like you and me.

iv. Even when we fall short of his expectations, and do him injustice and others… he forgives.

1. Justice is served

2. In His son Jesus Christ.

Surrender the main character role of your life to God in His Son Jesus

Let him forgive your failings and trust that He is bigger than your ups and downs

Recognize He’s in charge and let him take over.