Story: As Torah: Reading Old Testament Narrative...

In Western thought, we often separate "law" (rules) from "story" (entertainment). In the Hebrew Bible, these are inseparable. The legal codes of Exodus and Leviticus are nested within the story of a people’s journey toward God. To read narrative as Torah is to recognize that the way Abraham or David lives—including their failures—is designed to instruct the reader on the nature of God and the human condition. 2. The Power of "Showing" Over "Telling"

Finally, reading story as Torah means seeing the individual episodes as part of a single, sprawling epic. From the garden in Genesis to the return from exile, the narrative reveals a God who is relentlessly pursuing a relationship with humanity. Every smaller story—no matter how strange or violent—functions as a piece of this larger instructional puzzle. Story as Torah: Reading Old Testament Narrative...

When a character meets a woman at a well (Isaac, Jacob, Moses), it’s a "type scene" that signals a significant turning point in the covenantal line. In Western thought, we often separate "law" (rules)

The biblical narrator often leaves out a character’s internal thoughts. This invites the reader to step into the story, asking, "Why did they do that?" This engagement is where the "instruction" happens, forcing us to grapple with our own motives. 3. Literary Artistry as Theology To read narrative as Torah is to recognize

Characters are rarely one-dimensional. Jacob is a deceiver, yet he is chosen. This teaches us that divine grace is not based on moral perfection.