Old Testament Survey

My experience with the Old Testament is limited to the few bits and pieces of knowledge I have acquired throughout my years in the church. Unfortunately, I've never studied the Old Testament extensively myself. It seems that the extent of my knowledge only reaches as far as the Bible stories read to me as a child and information obtained through conversations, sermons, and some Bible studies I've attended. It wasn't until recently that I realized the importance of studying the Old Testament and its effect on people today. Not only is the Old Testament God's inspired word but a collected works of the history of an entire race of people. Whether you read the creation story in Genesis, the story of Noah and his ark, about the covenant that God established with Abraham, how Moses delivered his people out of Egypt in Exodus, or even the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah; you will find intriguing stories that not only educate you but also enlighten you. When you study the Bible spiritually you are approaching it at a different angle than you would if you were just studying for its academic benefits. Yes, it is important to study the Bible for spiritual reasons but it is also valuable to study it on an academic level. As an example, people of the Christian faith use the Bible as an instructional tool, teaching them how to live their lives the best way they can. While someone who is not of a certain faith or has no belief in God might view the Bible just as important, just for different reasons. The person who reads the Bible for its academic value is searching for its roots in the history of this world and how the Bible coincides with other historical documents of the same era. It isn't just important to study the Bible for the knowledge it provides but also that you may acquire your own opinions and beliefs regarding it. The Bible is the best-selling book in the world, therefore you can assume that it has been and will be studied, broken down,