Breaking Down: The History
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)
The ending of the book of Deuteronomy tells us of the death of Moses as the Israelites arrive at the borders of the Promised Land. While the overall length of this period is debated - with some saying that the historical books end with Esdras or any other book - it’s important to know the history of the people of Israel. Within those historical books is almost an entire millennium worth of stories, lessons and practices that still need to be studied and understood to grasp the person of Yeshua at His arrival and the love of Yahweh, the Father, for the sons and daughters of Jacob.
A quick summary of the historical books begins with the aforementioned death of Moses; Joshua takes over the reigns of leader in Israel (Joshua 1:1 - 9), leading them to conquering the promised land. They then proceed to be led by a series of Judges, who bring them back to the Father whenever they start to stray away. It won’t be long before they demand to become a kingdom and to have a king (1 Samuel 8), bringing forth a period of great prosperity but also of great troubles. Rulers, both great and horrible, would take the throne and slowly bring the Israelites further away from God, leading them to being separated and dispersed from the land (2 Kings 17), a realization of the curse that would befall upon them if they ever strayed away from the Father and His commandments in Deuteronomy 28:64. The historical books would eventually lead us to the lands of dispersion, where we encounter those who keep hold to the faith and the commandments such as Nehemiah, Daniel and Esther. In all, the historical books are rightfully that: history, lessons and morals meant for us all to keep and to understand.
The relationship between Israel and the Father is something that is central and key to the historical books of the Bible. The Father has given them “this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates” (Genesis 15:18), a land that they are able to call home. More than just that, He shows them His love by continuously providing them with everything that they would want or need in their lives. This happens, even though the children of Israel continue to disobey Yahweh, the God of their fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. David would say in the Psalms that the children of Israel did not remember “the day he redeemed them from the oppressor” (Psalm 78:42) as they continued to sin against him, themselves and their nation. It’s through the seemingly endless sins that the Father disperses them from the Land that was given to them by Him. Some would return to the land - under oppression of many different invaders - to praise Him and to establish families, but not all of the twelve tribes. In truth, the historical books allow us to understand how the Israelites gained and lost their promise, all the while setting up the background to the world when Yeshua arrives.
The historical books allow for a lot of understanding of the person of Yeshua. Those who had access to the Holy Scriptures at the time and who studied it day and night just like it was commanded to Joshua (Joshua 1:8) must have known the small details in many of the patriarchs that led to Yeshua. David was a shepherd like Yeshua is (1 Samuel 17:34 - 36; John 10:11). Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish so as Yeshua did (Matthew 12:40). A final example can come from the Job, a man who was righteous before the Father but who suffered through no fault of his own, but persisted with the Eternal One for it was His will. When Yeshua said that the Old Testament talks about Him (John 5:39), He meant every part, from the Torah to the Historical books and the Prophets, as He is the Word of God.
In conclusion, there are many secrets that are hidden in the historical books of the Bible. Certain secrets that we haven’t even begun to discover, whether that be here on Bible 101, at Viens et Vois la Cité des Merveilles or even in the entire world. But that is why we must continue to pore over them and to truly study them and understand the time and the world in which they lived in, to better understand our own, our God YHWH and the plans of peace and prosperity that He has for those who follow Him in spirit and in truth.