God’s Mission

The Bible is a massive book, composed through thousands of years by numerous authors from diverse cultural, historical and religious backgrounds. And while many of us are familiar enough with its various stories, discerning unity in this conglomeration can be daunting. But when we step back far enough, the broad contours of a Story begin to emerge, a Story which gives context, and therefore meaning, both to the hundreds of smaller stories that compose it, and to our own lives and mission.

From Creation to Consummation

Adam

The Story begins by introducing us to a God whose word inviolably reaches perfect fulfillment (then God said … and it was so,Gen 1:3, 6-7, 9, 11, 14-15, 20-21, 24, 26-31). Everything this God makes is good (and God saw what He had made, and it was good,Gen 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31), and the climax of His creation is a creature who images Him by ruling over a perfect dominion (Gen 1:26-28). This ideal situation lasts no more than two pages, however. For mankind takes to himself a prerogative reserved for God alone: now it is the woman who sees and decides what isgood (Gen 3:5-6). The man quickly follows. Thus rather than exercising God’s authority over all creation (Gen 1:26,