Old Testament Journeys of Faith: their lives...and our lives

by Norman P. Grubb

"These Old Testament lives are full of vital meaning to our ordinary lives. Because no life is ordinary! It is only ordinary in itself. It is extraordinary in this cooperation with God!" Norman Grubb Journeys of Faith is a book of the discovery of our own lives in each life from the Old Testament. You will repeatedly recognize yourself while discovering revolutionary truths about these well-known 'friends' from our family history! Abraham...Isaac & Jacob...Moses...Joseph...David...Esther...Job...... Journeys of Faith begins with Job, considered the first book written, and sets the stage for the other books. God took Job from seeing life and God from a 'consciousness of separation' to seeing with a single eye...God only! We've heard these stories told in church, Sunday school class, Bible study, Hollywood movies and in our own personal reading as we sought to understand more of God, His people and His ways. Norman Grubb makes these all too familiar stories new. They come alive because he walked the same tests of faith victorious given to these men and women by God. Much of our previous thinking and teaching about these people in Biblical history will 'collide' with and be expanded by Mr. Grubb's sweeping insight and his always upward and reconciling view of life, of God and of His ways. If you have ever questioned God and His actions in the Old Testament, you will find this book will intrigue you...for you are certain to find new meaning in the One who "is upholding all things." As Norman talks about those who lived so long ago we see how each life expresses a similar pattern...the PROCESS of faith...as God trains them to live and walk, not by human efforts, but by trusting in Someone they could only know within. Through difficulties they discovered that God never intended them to bring about His plans for their lives. That was only His to do! Their answer was only and always to "walk by faith, not by sight." From Abraham through Esther we see how they learned to live in a way new to each one. With Moses we find God taking His people into a further level of His plan for humanity. Moses is most often remembered for the Ten Commandments. That was the first step of God's preparation to reveal to them their sin. But His greatest accomplishment through Moses was the building of the Tabernacle, the outer representation of the true tabernacle - people - who are "temples of the living God." Through God's interaction with him Moses became settled in knowing that he spoke and acted as God to the people, and ultimately that he was an intercessor for them. Moses' intercession made the way for the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. What a picture of the coming Christ - the Intercessor for us! God prepares us through the law, which exposes our sin, in order to move into a new relationship with Him - one of grace and mercy and freedom - knowing "I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" - a living tabernacle with the living God inside! Norman's motto was "Not God and...but God only!" He continually saw a life of unity...oneness...union. This is what you will experience throughout Old Testament Journeys of Faith, Their lives...and our lives!

432 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2015

About the author

Norman Percy Grubb was a missionary statesman, writer and theological teacher.

Reviews

[Christy Bower · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this inexpensive eBook because the author had been recommended to me and because I enjoy delving into the lives of Bible heroes. Little did I realize this book would be so much more than Bible biographies.

Norman Grubb carefully explores the progress of faith in each person’s life, showing how Job, Joseph, and others grew in their faith toward God. He pointed out the different events that served as turning points in their progression of faith. But he amazingly weaves New Testament principles into each life event, making the truth come alive in relevance for us today.

This book was 432 pages long, although on my Kindle, it was considerably longer. This isn’t a quick read, but the content is meant to be slowly processed for our own spiritual growth. Yes, there were occasional parts where the author got a little long-winded, but considering these were transcripts of talks he gave, it’s understandable.

It’s not a difficult book. It’s quite conversational and understandable to the average reader (no theological jargon). I’d recommend it for anyone who wants a New Testament perspective on Old Testament heroes or for anyone who wants to begin to understand how spiritual growth works in our lives—some things never change.

This review, along with additional book quotes, first appeared on my blog, ChristyBower.com.