Greetings, Bible students! Today we’re going to talk about something that might seem confusing when you read the Bible. Have you ever wondered about those stories where God’s people had to fight battles against other nations? Maybe these stories made you feel uncomfortable or confused. That’s okay! Even grown-ups sometimes struggle to understand these parts of the Bible. Let’s explore this together!
The Great Big Story of the Bible
Imagine you’re watching a movie, but you only see one scene in the middle. Would you understand what’s happening? Probably not! To understand any scene, you need to know the whole story.
The Bible is like one big story from beginning to end. This story starts in a beautiful garden where everything is perfect. But then something terrible happens – evil enters the world when Adam and Eve choose to disobey God. From that moment on, there’s a great big battle happening between good and evil, between God and Satan.
This battle isn’t like the ones you might see in superhero movies. It’s a battle for people’s hearts and minds. God loves people and wants them to know Him and live in His light. Satan wants to pull people away from God and into darkness.
When Bible Stories Seem Scary
Some parts of the Bible might seem scary, especially stories in books like Joshua where God tells His people to remove other nations from the land. These stories can be hard to understand if we don’t remember the big picture.
Think about this: If you had a beautiful garden where you grew food for your family, what would you do if poisonous plants started growing there? You’d have to remove them, right? Not because you’re mean, but because you need to protect what’s good and healthy!
In Bible times, some nations had become like those poisonous plants. They did terrible things like sacrificing their own children to false gods. They had become so filled with evil that they were dangerous to everyone around them – like a disease that spreads.
The Story of Joshua: A Lesson About Spiritual Danger
Let me tell you about Joshua. After Moses led God’s people out of Egypt, Joshua became their new leader. God had promised them a special land where they could live and worship Him. But this land was filled with nations that worshipped false gods and did very evil things.
God knew that if His people lived alongside these nations, they might start copying their bad ways. It’s like when your parents warn you to stay away from friends who might pressure you to do wrong things. God was protecting His people from spiritual danger.
Here’s the important part: These stories aren’t just about what happened thousands of years ago. They teach us something important for today! Just like Joshua had to remove evil influences from the Promised Land, we need to remove harmful influences from our lives.
Recognizing “Spiritual Bullies”
Have you ever met a bully who just wouldn’t stop, no matter how nice you were to them? Sometimes there are spiritual bullies too – things that try to pull us away from God and won’t stop no matter what.
Imagine you’re building a beautiful sandcastle, and someone keeps trying to knock it down. That’s what Satan tries to do with our faith! He uses different tricks to try to pull us away from God.
Some examples might be:
- Books or shows that make evil seem good and exciting
- Friends who try to make you feel silly for believing in God
- Thoughts that make you doubt God’s love for you
- Things like fortune-telling or magic that claim to have power apart from God
These are like those nations in Joshua’s time – they can be dangerous to our faith if we let them stay too close to us.
Keeping Our Hearts and Minds Safe
So how do we protect ourselves from these harmful influences? We don’t need swords and shields like Joshua’s army! Instead, we need spiritual protection.
Here are some ways to keep your heart and mind safe:
1. Build a faith fortress: Read your Bible regularly so you know what’s true. When you know truth really well, it’s easier to spot lies!
2. Pray every day: Talking to God is like having a direct line to the most powerful protection in the universe! When something scary or confusing comes up, talk to God about it.
3. Find good friends: Spend time with other people who love God. They can help you stay strong when things get tough.
4. Ask questions: When something doesn’t make sense, ask your parents, pastor, or Sunday School teacher. God isn’t afraid of your questions!
5. Fill your mind with good things: Instead of things that pull you away from God, fill your life with good books, music, and activities that help you grow closer to Him.
A Story to Help Us Understand
Let me share a story that might help. Once there was a little girl named Sarah who loved to tend her garden. She grew beautiful flowers and delicious vegetables. One day, she noticed some pretty-looking plants starting to grow among her vegetables. Though they looked nice, her father told her they were actually weeds that would choke out her good plants.
“But they look so pretty,” Sarah said. “Can’t I keep just a few?”
Her father shook his head. “These weeds might look harmless now, but they’re actually very greedy. They’ll take all the water and nutrients from your vegetables. And some of them are even poisonous! We need to remove every last one.”
Together, they carefully removed all the weeds. It seemed harsh to pull out plants that looked so nice, but her father knew better. By the end of summer, Sarah’s garden was thriving with healthy vegetables, while her neighbor’s garden (who kept the weeds) produced almost nothing.
This is similar to how God works. He sees dangers we can’t always see, and He knows what needs to be removed for us to thrive.
God’s Love and Justice Working Together
Some people think that the God of the Old Testament seems angry, while Jesus in the New Testament seems loving. But they’re the same God! God has always been perfectly loving AND perfectly just.
Think about the best parent you can imagine. A good parent both loves their child deeply AND sets firm rules to keep them safe. If a small child runs toward a busy street, a loving parent will rush to stop them – maybe even grabbing them firmly. It might seem harsh in that moment, but it’s actually deep love in action!
God’s actions in the Bible always come from both His love and His justice. He loves people so much that He can’t allow evil to destroy them. Sometimes that means He has to take strong action against evil.
Remember the End of the Story!
The most important thing to remember is that God’s story doesn’t end with battles. The Bible ends with a beautiful picture of God making everything new, wiping away every tear, and living with His people forever in perfect peace.
Everything God does – even the parts that are hard to understand – is moving His big story toward that wonderful ending. When we trust that God is both loving AND just, we can face the confusing parts of the Bible with confidence.
So next time you read a tough Bible story, remember: God is fighting for good in a cosmic battle against evil, and He invites us to be on His team! What an amazing adventure we get to be part of!
Let’s Talk About It
If you have questions about difficult Bible stories, talk to a trusted grown-up who loves God. Remember, asking questions doesn’t mean your faith is weak – it means you’re growing! God is big enough to handle all our questions, and He loves it when we seek to understand Him better.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
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Photo credits for the “Great Big Story of the Bible” picture.
Bible: maja7777 on pixabay
Creation: Kar3nt on pixabay
Noah’s Ark: by artistly
David and Goliath: jeffjacobs1990 on pixabay
Crosses: shawonofficial on pixabay
Flying horse: Kar3nt on pixabay
Heaven: Kar3nt on pixabay
Would you like to listen to the story of Ruth from the Bible?
It’s a beautiful love story.
If you’re interested, click the picture of the book, Ruth: Finding My True Love.
Here are links to my blog indexes, which will make it quick and easy for you to find another post to read.
∙ Blogs with a Spiritual Theme
∙ Blogs about Books I Like: Fiction
∙ Blogs about Books I Like: Nonfiction
∙ Blogs for Holidays and Other Special Days
∙ Miscellaneous Blogs