Ruth, Esther, and Jonah are some of our most loved Bible
stories - the tales of many childhoods, the content of Sunday School
felt boards.
But there is
more to these famous Bible stories than meets the eye. When read through
a grown-up lens, we discover they're far grittier, wittier, and wiser
than expected.
Come Alive:
Ruth, Esther, and Jonah will help you uncover what is really happening
in these stories - the real, the raw, and the at times shocking details -
and their significance in the larger narrative of Scripture. You will
see that:
- Ruth is not an ancient romance novel.
- Esther isn't a sweet story about kings and queens.
- Jonah is a lot more than a big fish story.
And because of this, they have much to say about the subtle, redemptive ways God intersects with our lives today.
Beloved
by the people of Israel long before they were beloved by us, these
cultural stories hold deep theological truths about God at work behind
the scenes in the lives of ordinary people and less-than-ideal
circumstances - revealing His all-encompassing love for humanity and His
goodness, even when we feel powerless, forgotten, or hopeless.
The
entertaining and expert storytelling in these books is an invitation to
set aside the temptation to read the Bible as a "how to" book and start
reading it literarily, with all its drama, humor, and brilliance. When
you do, you will find universal truths and timeless nuggets of wisdom
that help you perceive God in the hidden places and live with more hope
in the face of tragedy, injustice, and failure.