To build up a good relation with the Divine Creator, the Divine Master Maker Himself provided several people who should be an example for mankind to come closer to God.
The temptation of Adam and Eve
Because of the rebellion against their Maker, the first human beings where cast out of the Garden of Eden, but had their offspring also with the blemish of the consequences of their going wrong. From those two people, AdamandEve, came forth several people and several nations. They were the beginning of all nations and therefore those the Bible refers to as “one flesh”, Eve coming from the same flesh (Adam’s) and being joined together again in marital/sexual union are really inseparable. They were told to multiply in such a way that the whole world would be populated. That is part of the Plan of God.
Their act of defiance, called “The Fall” by many theologians, is a real bummer because from it comes painful childbirth, weeds in our gardens, many problems, lots of pain and, ultimately, death. Moreover, Adam and Eve’s disobedience introduce fear and alienation into humankind’s formerly perfect relationships with God and one another. As evidence of this alienation, Adam and Eve’s son, Cain, murders his brother, Abel.
Building the Ark (Noah’s Preaching Scorned), by Harry Anderson
After that horrible drama it still not went right and even went so bad that God found it more than enough, and therefore would give man a possibility to return to the right path. But they did not; and therefore God brought a great flood over the whole earth. Noah and his family where chosen to survive the deluge because Noah was
“the most righteous in his generation.”
and as such should be one of the many good examples to follow. Can you imagine what a faith in that God he could not see, he must have had, to build a giant three-decked wooden box in which he, his family, and a whole bunch of animals would have to come to live when there was going to be a massive flood that God was going to send to destroy humankind for its disobedience. For years he worked on that ark in the desert where so many passed and laughed with him, finding him a big idiot.
From the family of Noah the world of man could start again from anew. Once again God could see people not willing to follow Him but preferring to make themselves other gods and believing in them more.
Abraham Taking Isaac to Be Sacrificed – by Del Parson
In those early times of mankind, early 2nd millennium bce, we can find again a man with incredible faith in his God. Though not perfect, Avram, how he was called first, was called by God to leave his homeland in Mesopotamia to venture to an unknown Promised LandCanaan. The tales of Abraham and his wife Sarah are a roller coaster of dramatic events that repeatedly jeopardize God’s promise. The couple its faith was really tested many times. Ironically, the biggest threat to God’s promise was when God Himself commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham did not hesitate to do what God asked from him, but right before Abraham was going to deliver the fatal blow to his own child, God stopped the sacrifice. As a reward for Abraham’s faith, God fulfils His promise to make Abraham’s descendants a great nation, as Isaac’s son Jacob eventually has 12 sons, whose descendants become the nation of Israel.
In Judaism the promised offspring is understood to be the Jewish people descended from Abraham’s son, Isaac, born of his wife Sarah. Similarly, in Christianity the genealogy of Jesus is traced to Isaac, and Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. In Islam it is Ishmael, Abraham’s firstborn son, born of Hagar, who is viewed as the fulfillment of God’s promise, and the Prophet Muhammad is his descendant. {Abraham Hebrew patriarch; André Parrot, Encyclopaedia Britannica}
Moses and the Burning Bushes – by Jerry Thompson
To bring over His messages Jehovah God uses human people who live according His wishes. One of them could see how people where not nicely treated and had to be brought out of the yoke of Egyptian slavery. Raised in the royal palace by Pharaoh’s daughter and her servant, the real mother of Moses, he had to flee Egypt for killing an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite slave. God knowing the heart of man, also knew very well what went on in Moses head and why that murder happened. Though no man can see God and live, Jehovah ‘appeared’ before Moses in a burning bush and told him to return to Egypt to deliver the Israelites from their slavery. Lots of faith in God was demanded from Moses, to meet every time the pharaoh bringing over the message of God, Who would bring a plague to the country. With God’s help, Moses succeeded in his mission, bringing the Israelites to Mount Sinai, where God gave him the Law, including the Ten Commandments.
Moses wrote down also the Words of God on the scrolls or manuscripts which we know today as the Pentateuch or the Torah. It are those books which bring us the history of man, but also bring us a picture how we can build up a good relation with God or how we can destroy such a relation.
That God not only wants to have a relation with us when we are totally good, we can see in many other characters, who also did not have a faultless life. In David, for example, we may find a character who perpetrates one of the Bible’s most heinous crimes: he committed adultery with a woman named Bathsheba, who was the wife of one of David’s most loyal soldiers, Uriah. Though to cover up the crime, David had the Hittite killed. It was after the prophet Samuel confronted David with his sin, that he came to repent. We may see that God is a forgiving One when people repent, but we should know that sometimes we shall have to bear the punishment like it was for David.
Beyond David’s royal exploits (and indiscretions), he’s credited with writing many of ancient Israel’s worship songs, which you can read in the Book of Psalms.
He was is Israel’s second and greatest king and it is out of his lineage an other prophet and king would be born and would bring salvation to the world.
Several other prophets warned people about their lifestyle and how they had to prepare for great days to come. Because many people liked worshipping multiple gods many prophets tried to have them to worship Only OneTrue God.
In order to prove to the Israelites that the ElohimHashemJehovahGod is the Only True God, the prophet Elijah gathered the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, where for the main event each deity was given a pile of wood with a bull on it. The god who could produce fire and consume the sacrifice would be called the greatest and win. Baal went first, and for half the day his prophets danced, shouted, sang, and even cut themselves in order to convince their god to answer Elijah’s challenge. When their efforts failed, Elijah prayed to Jehovah God, who immediately brought fire down from the sky to consume the sacrifice. The Israelites rededicated themselves to This Incredible God who listens to people and gives answers to people, and they killed the prophets who deceived them into worshipping Baal.
Isaiah Writes of Christ’s Birth (The Prophet Isaiah Foretells Christ’s Birth), by Harry Anderson
A later figure of importance is the man who with many of his prophecies inspired hope for eventual peace and righteousness on earth. Several of these prophecies were later understood by Christians to be predictions of Jesus, including the birth of Immanuel; the coming of the Prince of Peace, as quoted in Handel’s Messiah; and the suffering of God’s “Servant” for the sins of his people.
That prophet (Isaiah) spoke about a servant and sent one from God, the son of man, coming from the lineage or seed of king David, who can be considered as the most important prophet. It was the Nazarene JewJeshua, the ben haElohim or son of God, better known today as Jesus Christ.
He is the one who told many stories and parables so that people could come to know how to live and how to prepare themselves for the Great Day of Judgement that is going to come.
He is also the best example to follow, him being the way to God and the one showing and opening the door to the Kingdom of God.
All the above mentioned characters are only a few of the many presented in the Bible. In that Book of books we may find many men and women who can be brought forward as people of God, having done things we can learn from. Many of them were obedient to God’s commands throughout their life, some even risking their life, like Esther. Other’s their family story, like Hosea‘s, was a metaphor for God’s relationship with Israel.
In stories like the one of Jonah we can see how much better it is to listen to God. And that listening can be done by reading the most precious Book of books, the Bible.
With over 66 books of Scripture, 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament, covering thousands of years of history, the Bible makes mention of hundreds of people either in great detail and gives others just a passing mention. From all those spoken off we can learn, the same as we can learn by looking around us and by comparing what is written, in the Bible, about such occasions we encounter in our daily life.
God has used people to write down His Words. Those Words are collected in several scrolls or books, we call the “Bible” (from Biblia = collection of books) or the Holy Scriptures or book of books.
The books of the Judaic Scriptures or Old Testament, showing their positions in both the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible, shown with their names in Hebrew) and Christian Bibles. The Deuterocanon or Apocrypha are coloured differently from the Protocanon (the Hebrew Bible books which are considered canonical by all). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Roman Catholics add apocryphal books (from the Greek ἀπόκρυφος, apókruphos, meaning “hidden” or apokruptein ‘hide away’) to those adopted by other Christian bodies. By the Eastern Orthodox per the Synod of Jerusalem those books are called anagignoskomena. By protestants those books are also sometimes called deuterocanonical books.
The Apocrypha include the following books and parts of books: First and Second Esdras; Tobit; Judith; the Additions to Esther; Wisdom of Solomon; Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus); Baruch; the Letter of Jeremiah (in Baruch); parts of Daniel (the Prayer of Azariah and the Song of the Three Young Men; see also Bel and the Dragon and Susanna1); First and Second Maccabees; the Prayer of Manasses (see Manasseh). All are included in the Septuagint and Vulgate versions but not in the Hebrew Bible, with the exception of 2 Esdras (4 Ezra). However, they were not included in the Hebrew canon (ratified c.C.E. 100), being considered Sefarim hizonim (extraneous books).
Jewish and Christian works resembling biblical books, but not included among the Apocrypha, are collected in the Pseudepigrapha. {The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. 2016; The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 2006}
Anglican and Protestant translations of the Bible have, since the 16th century, placed books of the Apocrypha between the Old and New Testaments.
Those books are given to mankind so that he can come to see what the Divine Creator wants from him and what the Plans are. In all those writings man can find God’s revelation of what all people need to know about their origins, rebellion against God, sinful nature, salvation, spiritual development, and destiny.
The idea of a collection of holy writings developed early in Hebrew-Christian thought. Daniel in the 6th century B.C. E. spoke of a prophetic writing as “the books” (Daniel 9:2). The writer of 1 Maccabees (2nd century B.C.E.) referred to the Tanakh or Old Testament as “the holy books” (12:9).
Master teacherrabbi Jeshua, in the present world better known as Jesus Christ used the scrolls to show people the way to God. He alluded to the Tanakh as “the scriptures” (Matthew 21:42), and Paul spoke of them as “the holy scriptures” (Romans 1:2).
Matthew 21:42 (RNKJV): Yahushua saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is יהוה’s {Jehovah’s) doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Romans 1:1-3 (RNKJV): Romans 1
1 Paul, a servant of Yahushua the Messiah, called to be an apostle, separated unto the glad tidings of יהוה, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Yahushua the Messiah our Saviour, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
Several Christians talk about the Bible and then think only of the New Testament, but they should know that the New testament cannot be without the previous Old Testament. Because rabbi Jeshua constantly refers to the Judaic Scripturesfollowers of Christ should also have to know the Pre-Messianic Scriptures or the Old Testament. Actually “testament” is the translation of a Greek word that might better be rendered “covenant.” It denotes an arrangement made by God for the spiritual guidance and benefit of human beings. Through the ages many covenants were agreed between God and man. As such we can find an Edenic, Mosaic, Abrahamic, Old and New Covenants. The covenant is unalterable: humankind may accept it or reject it but cannot change it. “Covenant” is a common Old Testament word; of several covenants described in the Old Testament, the most prominent was the Law given to Moses, often referred to as Mosaic Law. While Israel was chafing and failing under the Mosaic covenant, God promised them a “new covenant” (Jeremiah 31:31).
Jeremiah 31:31 (RNKJV)
Behold, the days come, saith יהוה, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
The term “new covenant” appears several times in the New Testament. Jesus used it when he instituted the Lord’s Supper; by it he sought to call attention to the new basis of communion with God he intended to establish by his death (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25).
Luke 22:20 (RNKJV): Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
1 Corinthians 11:25 (RNKJV)
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
The apostle Paul also spoke of that new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:6, 14; Hebrews 8:8; 9:11–15).
2 Corinthians 3:6 (RNKJV):Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
2 Corinthians 3:14 (RNKJV)
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in the Messiah.
By the offering of Jesus, giving his body for the sins of allpeople, and God accepting his ransomoffering, for those who will come in Christ the veil shall be taken away whilst the Jews still face the Old or Παλαιος (ancient) in contrast to καινος (fresh, verse 6) arrangement. The detailed description of Gods new method of dealing with people (on the basis of the finished work of Christ at the stake) is the subject of the 27 books of the New Testament.
From the older works we come to hear how God got on with and arranged matters for people in anticipation of the coming of this Messiah (Hebrew equivalent of “Christ,” meaning “anointedone”). His promise made in the Garden of Eden (long before Abraham was born) presenting a solution against the curse of death, is certainly the major theme of the 39 books of the Pre-Messianic books or Old Testament, though they also deal with much more than that.
Latin church writers used testamentum to translate “covenant,” and from them the use passed into English; so old and new covenants became Old Testament and New Testament.
At least the first half of the Old Testament follows a logical and easily understood arrangement. In Genesis through Esther the history of Israel from Abraham to the restoration under Persian auspices appears largely in chronological order. Then follows a group of poetic books and the Major (not meaning important, but meaning the books that are relatively long) and Minor Prophets (meaning the books that are relatively short), known as the Shnem Asar, i.e. ‘The Twelve’.
The Second Writings, variously called the Netzarim or Nazarene Writings, the Messianic Writings, Kethuvim Bet, the New Covenant, haBrit haHadasha or the New Testament, also follows a generally logical arrangement. It begins with the presentation of the personal views from Jeshua his chosen disciples. As personal representatives those chosen ones describe the birth, life, teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in four Gospels.
In that first part of the New Testament we witness already how Jesus trained his disciples to carry on his work after his ascension. How they carried on is further shown in the Book of Acts. It details the founding of the church and its spread through Mediterranean lands.
In the latter part of the Messianic writings the spotlight focuses on Saul of Tarsus better known as the apostle Paul and his church-planting activities. In the Paulineletters or epistles Paul addresses the churches he founded or young ministers he tried to encourage. Following the Pauline Epistles comes a group commonly called the General or PastoralEpistles.
The last book, Revelation of John, also called Book of Revelation (Lat., revelare, ‘to unveil’) or Apocalypse of John or Vision of John, is an apocalyptic work, using the epistolary, the apocalyptic, and the prophetic genre. It is perhaps, by its extensive use of visions, symbols, and allegory, including figures such as the Whore of Babylon and the Beast, culminating in the Second Coming of Jesus, the most difficult book of the collection. It is itself also a collection of separate units composed by unknown authors who lived during the last quarter of the 1st century, though it purports to have been written by an individual named John — who calls himself “the servant” of Jesus — at Patmos, in the Aegean Sea. The text includes no indication that John of Patmos and John the Apostle are the same person. It begins with John, on the island of Patmos in the Aegean, addressing a letter to the “Seven Churches of Asia“.
Three languages were used for the Holy Scriptures: Hebrew with a few isolated passages inAramaic in the latter books of the Old Testament and mainly Greek for the Messianic writings which are therefore also often called Greek Scriptures or Greek Writings.
The first books, or the Pentateuch, were written by Moses by about 1400 B.C.E. (provided one accepts the early date proposed for the exodus). If the last of 12 Old Testament books that bear the names of the Minor Prophets was written by Malachi (a transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning “my messenger”, before 400 B.C.E.), composition took place during a thousand years of time. All the writers (some 30 in number) were Jews: prophets, judges, kings, and other leaders in Israel.
If James was the first to write a New Testament book before the middle of the 1st century and if John was the last (composing Revelation about C.E. 95), the New Testament was written during a 50-year period in the latter half of the 1st century. All the writers (probably nine) were Jews, with the exception of Luke (writer of Luke and Acts of the apostles), and they came from a variety of walks of life: fishermen, doctor, tax collector, and religious leaders.
In spite of great diversity of authorship in the Hebrew Writings or Old Testament and the Greek Writings or New Testament, and composition spanning over 1,500 years, there is remarkable unity in the total thrust. Christians believe that God must have been superintending the production of a divine-human book that would properly present His message to humankind.
We believe the library of books from those people God chose Himself to write down His messages bring not only the history of mankind but also a divine revelation.
The Old Testament starts with the beginning of the universe and describes man and woman in the first paradise on the old earth or old world; the New Testament concludes with a vision of the new heaven and new earth or new world.
The Old Testament sees humankind as fallen from a sinless condition and separated from God; the creatures themselves having chosen to go against God’s Wishes and damaging their relationship with God. The Hebrew Writings then focus on how God offered mankind a solution for their act of rebellion. Throughout the 39 books of the Old Testament there is regularly spoken of a coming Redeemer who will rescue men and women from the pit of condemnation.
In the New Testament is revealed how those Words spoken by God in the garden of Eden become a reality and as such all those words from God ‘become flesh’. From the beginning all things came into being by the Word of God and after long waiting the world could find that now there came a new opportunity to have life. That life was the light of mankind which shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it. The books after the major and minor prophets give us the words of the send one from God, the prophet whom God declared to be His only begotten beloved son.
John 1:1-5 (Ref.B.): John 1
1 In [the] beginning+ the Word*+ was, and the Word was with God,*+ and the Word was a god.*+ 2 This one was in [the] beginning+ with God.+ 3 All things came into existence through him,+ and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.
What has come into existence 4 by means of him was life,+ and the life was the light+ of men.* 5 And the light is shining in the darkness,+ but the darkness has not overpowered it. (Ref.B)
In most of the Old Testament the spotlight focuses on a sacrificial system in which the blood of animals provided a temporary handling of the sin problem; in the New Testament, Christ appeared as the one who came to put an end to all ritualsacrifice — to be himself the supreme sacrifice.
In the New Testament Jesus refers often to what was told in the Old Testament. He gives more information and helps people to understand those previous writings better. His actions and his words should people come to realise that Jeshua, Jesus Christ, is that in numerous predictions foretold coming Messiah who would save his people. In the New Testament scores of passages detail how those prophecies from the Tanakh were minutely fulfilled in the person of Jeshua, Jesus Christ: the “son of Abraham” and the “son of David”.
Matthew 1:1 (RNKJV)
The book of the generation of Yahushua the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
As Augustine said more than 1,500 years ago,
“The New is in the Old contained; the Old is in the New explained.”
When we go looking for God it is not bad to also have a look at those who in previous centuries looked for God or had found the Most High God.
One of the great Kings in the Middle East, who was secretly anointed by the prophet Samuel, after revoking Saul‘s designation as king, was chosen king by the elders of Judah. In the civil war that ensued, Ishbaal and Abner were slain. Their deaths removed the last obstacles from David‘s path to the throne, and about 1010 B.C.E. he was crowned king of all the Israelites.
As a skilled harpist and writer he wrote many psalms which we still have to bring us thinking about the One Who was praised by this king.
David’s Psalm 145 is a remarkable song of praise, extolling all that God must be. In reading or singing this Psalm each of us must think carefully about each point David makes. It becomes so easy, especially with hymns we become very familiar with, to repeat the words – simply as words – and the reality of their meanings cease to penetrate our minds in any wholesome sense. When they are about the absolute greatness of the Creator of all things we should feel utterly awed and totally humbled by what we read – and sing.
Psalms 145:2-3 (RNKJV)
2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 3 Great is יהוה {Jehovah}, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
Would this frighten you? Or do we have no opportunity to find God because He is “Unsearchable”? Though His greatness, to which there is no end, can not be searched out, His works, will declare God’s Power.
Psalms 145:4 (RNKJV)
4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
Yes, the more the wonders of creation have been discovered – down to the minutest detail, the more this is seen as absolutely true – therefore, with ever greater feeling we will say – and sing –
Psalms 145:1 (RNKJV)
Psalms 145
1 I will extol thee, my Elohim, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
Extolling is praising highly. The act of extolling the worshippers of God brought, should bring us to wonder why they where so keen to bring such honour to that God. Why also was the Name of that God so important that they wanted to bless His name “forever and ever” (verse 1)?
In the previous millennia there where many people who followed the men of God and knew all those incredible stories which were told from one generation unto the next.
In the Pre-Messianic Scriptures or Old Testament we can find many examples of people who doubted if there was a God accompanying them and willing to guide them through their life. Many of them became very well convinced how that God of gods, the Host of hosts, was willing to listen to them and to help them.
The structure of part of a DNA double helix
Many people in the past could see God’s wondrous works. Those Works of God had lots of people brought in awe. They could see the works of man and compare them with the works of God and saw that man’s contribution to the world was nothing compared to God’s contribution to this world.
What is the wonder of the miniature world of DNA – now made ‘visible’ through the cleverness of humans. Truly, at “the time of the end … knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4) – and it has!
David’s Psalm reaches a mind compelling conclusion with his inspired words that the Most High God, the Elohim Jehovah is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth”.
Psalms 145:9-13 (RNKJV)
9 יהוה is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O יהוה; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
Coming closer to the end-times it shall be even more important that people speak about God’s Wonder-works and have His Name be known all over the earth.
Matthew 24:14 (RNKJV)
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
At that time there shall be again enough people who shall look up at Him Who fulfils the desire of those who fear Him. Him that assures us that He also hears our cry and saves them that call unto Him.
Psalms 145:17-20 (RNKJV)
17 יהוה is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works. 18 יהוה is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 יהוה preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
We may count on it that the Only One True God shall preserve all who love Him. But we also must know that all the wicked He will destroy.
The people who want to guide you and help you on the search to God let their mouth speak the praise of the Most High, and want to proclaim all flesh His holy name forever and ever. When His kingdom reaches its climax – all lovers of God shall be rejoicing and see how this is wonderfully true!
We make sure now, showing our love by our actions to demonstrate we mean what we say – and at that time we will be there – and how we “will extol” Him then!
That God not only wants to have a relation with us when we are totally good, we can see in many other characters, who also did not have a faultless life. In David, for example, we may find a character who perpetrates one of the Bible’s most heinous crimes: he committed adultery with a woman named Bathsheba, who was the wife of one of David’s most loyal soldiers, Uriah. Though to cover up the crime, David had the Hittite killed. It was after the prophet Samuel confronted David with his sin, that he came to repent. We may see that God is a forgiving One when people repent, but we should know that sometimes we shall have to bear the punishment like it was for David.
Several 
Relating to God 