Thank you for the question on Bible stories, “What gave inspiration to Bible stories?”
As one reads the biblical narrative, the accounts of the events are truly inspiring for your consideration:
A. In the biblical narrative, one may see oneself as one having little faith. As one thinks about the nearly impossible circumstances that the biblical character finds him/herself, one would run or surrender than face the challenge.
When Goliath, the Philistine warrior came forth to challenge any soldier of King Saul’s army to do one on one battle with him, there were no volunteers. Not even the king’s offer of marriage and tax exemption was sufficient for anyone to take up the challenge. It was a suicide mission with zero chance of victory over this giant warrior. Death was almost certain with his body armor and armor bearer before him.
I Samuel 17 says this, “Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified” (NIV).
As a reader, we can picture ourselves in that scene. Would we be that brave to volunteer to do battle with that giant warrior? We would say, “no way.” unless we have some of our modern arsenal with us to kill him. To battle Goliath with only sword or hand spear with a wooden shield is not enough protection or fire power. We would decline the offer. We wouldn’t be standing on the frontline but more like the back of the line.
B. In the biblical narrative, one admires the biblical character for their faith and courage in facing nearly impossible odds in overcoming them.
In that same biblical account, we don’t see ourselves as being a “David.” Here a teenage boy who shepherds his father’s sheep is willing to go to battle with the Philistine giant. His weapon: a sling. He refuses to wear any armament on his body. He choses five smooth stones. He claims that he has killed a bear and lion, but one may have doubts about that and yet he is willing to face that giant when no one else was willing. Either he is foolish or stupid, but is there something more to him that meets his physical appearance.
I Samuel 17 says this, “David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” 33 Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God” (NIV).
David had experiences in his life, but not in warfare. Was it an empty boast is there something to his experience. The size of the problem didn’t frighten him at all, but for most of us it would scare us to death.
We wish that we have that kind of courage and faith to step up and step into impossible circumstances. We wish that we could be like a “David” and if we see someone like that, we would admire that person a whole lot, even if s/he doesn’t succeed.
C. In the biblical narrative, one is inspired by the faith that person has in God.
Many Christians profess to be followers of God, but how many take that confession into reality. It’s one thing going to church each Sunday and it’s another thing to serve in a difficult ministry when others are withdrawing from that ministry. It’s great to know about the God of the Bible, but is the God of the Bible truly real in one’s own life!
David didn’t talk about his faith in God. David took his faith into his every day life circumstances including seeing the Philistine warrior. He believe that as God protected him in the past that he will do so in the present. David fights not for his own honor, his family security, but for the honor of God. That is highly commendable.
I Samuel 17 further says this, “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (NIV).
If one doesn’t have daily experiences with God, then one can’t expect to rely on God on the difficult circumstances in life. We admire David’s words and faith in God to do what he himself couldn’t do. It is God who will defeat the Philistine, not that David had a great strategy to do it. It was not by his wisdom or might, his expertise that will defeat Goliath. He believe that God will give him the strength and the accuracy to defeat Goliath with a sling and stone. He committed what he had into the hands of God to bring about that victory. There was only one place where his stone could impact Goliath’s armor. He had to trust God to direct his swing and aim to hit Goliath that would take him down. It is inspiring that David ran toward him, not that he waited for him to come to David. That is a step of faith.
Throughout the biblical narratives, men and women had their doubts about their ability to overcome an impossible situation, but God quite often assured them that he will grant them the victory if they would step out in faith. It is not fool heartedness, but confidence that God has directed him/her to that action.
Fear and anxiety keeps us from stepping forward in overcoming difficult circumstances or the cost is too high to be paid to engage in it. A life without faith is not worth living for anyone can live a life without faith. It’s just being safe.
SUMMARY: Faith takes a believer where few will dare to travel for the honor and glory of God.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/What-gave-inspiration-to-Bible-stories