To ask whether an event in Scripture really takes place or not is an inappropriate question: in the world of the narrative it most certainly does. But even in the world of the story we do not have to ascribe a miracle where one doesn’t occur. Take for instance the story of the sun standing still in Joshua 10. This is a perfect example where most readers see a miracle of colossal proportion, where one doesn’t necessarily take place. So if a miracle is not involved, how does the sun stand still over Gibeon, allowing Joshua and the Israelites to defeat the five kings of the Amorites in Joshua chapter 10?
When we travel to Israel we hike to the top of the Arbel Cliff, overlooking the Sea of Galilee. It’s a beautiful sight, with a panoramic view of the entire north shore of the Sea of Galilee. Oddly enough, 95% of Jesus’ public ministry takes place here, in an area no larger than a small neighborhood! However, midway in all three synoptic gospels -- Matthew, Mark and Luke -- Jesus takes his disciples 43 miles north of the Sea of Galilee to Caesarea Phillipi, a pagan city. Why does he do that?
In Genesis 2: 16-17 God says to Adam: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Well, Adam and Eve eat of it, and they do, indeed, die. And in Genesis 5 we take a walk through the graveyard, where we meet some really old people. What do we make of all the old ages in the Bible? Did people back then count time differently? Or were there some really old people walking around?
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