THE USE OF NARRATIVE PASSAGES IN THIS BOOK

This book draws from over 200 Scriptural examples of men and women who resisted tyranny.

Some people caution against drawing lessons from narrative. “Narrative is descriptive, not prescriptive,” they point out. But we do have ways of knowing how God wants us to interpret and learn from the narratives He has given us in His Word. As we look at the actions of a character from Scripture, we should ask:

• Does God’s moral law speak to whether the actions here were right or wrong? How do this character’s actions line up with God’s moral law? (Obviously, any moral rule we think we find in the passage must be laid down first in the law of God. If it isn’t commanded or forbidden in the law, it isn’t a rule.)
• Did God Himself speak favorably or unfavorably of the action?
• Did Jesus engage in an action?
• If the disciples did it, did Jesus approve?
• If it’s in the Prophets, do we see God blessing or judging the people for doing it?
• Does the structure of the passage give clues to defining the ethical lessons? (For instance, the parallelism in Proverbs and other chiastic structures are used to contrast good and bad, wisdom and folly, and more.)

The heroes and heroines used as good examples in this book all followed actions that were lawful (as defined by God’s law). These actions were either praised by God, blessed by God, praised by Jesus, instructed by Jesus, or demonstrated by Jesus.

May God give us the grace to learn from the saints He has given us as examples.