More on the Bible as Parable
I just felt to add to my page about whether I take the Bible verbatim or as parable.
I said earlier that I take it all verbatim except the passages where the text itself states that it is parable, and I conceded "poetic license" in the poetry books of the Bible.
But I also see that there can be parable behind many passages even where the passage doesn't state so - but in such cases I still primarily take the passage verbatim, I still take it as being literally true.
There are some examples of this which, in my opinion, have relevance to modern Israel - such as the histories surrounding Joseph, Ruth, David, and also the whole priestly function surrounding Moses' tabernacle.
For now I'll dissect just one example here:
You remember the story of Joseph, how he was a favourite son among Jacob's (Israel's) twelve sons, and his father made him a coat of many colours. But his brothers were very jealous, and hated him.
When he was about 17, Joseph dreamt that he and his brothers were binding sheaves in the field, and his sheave arose and stood upright, while his brothers' sheaves gathered around and made obeisance to his sheaf. Then he dreamt that the sun and moon and eleven stars made obeisance to him.
His brothers therefore hated him the more for implying that he might one day have dominion over them and that they would bow down to him.
So one day when the father sent Joseph to his brothers in the field, his brothers mistreated him and sold him as a slave to Egypt; then took his coat, dipped it in the blood of an animal, and returned it to their father, leading their father to believe that his son was dead.
Meanwhile in process of time in Egypt, Joseph became highly honoured - and he eventually became second only to Pharaoh.
By the time when a major famine later arose in the wider region, Joseph had become the chief administrator of food for Egypt.
As the famine grew severe, Jacob (Israel) had heard there was corn in Egypt, so he sent his sons to buy corn from Pharaoh.
When they arrived, Joseph immediately recognized his brothers, but they, assuming he had been killed or was still a slave, didn't recognize him. They bowed down to him, begging for food and for their lives.
In this first meeting, Joseph did not make himself known to them; but in his second meeting with them, Joseph made himself known to them, and wept as he enquired whether his father was yet alive.
His brothers were afraid, but Joseph forgave them - there was a great reconciliation.
Joseph said, "You meant what you did unto evil, but God meant it for good - to save your lives by a great salvation".
Not only was Israel's whole family saved, but they all came to see Joseph and to live with him in his Kingdom.
It's such a beautiful story!
I take the story as being literally and historically true.
But also, although the text doesn't state so, I see it as a possible parable of the nation of Israel's relationship in history with the Messiah - a parable in which Joseph's brothers become a symbol of the nation of Israel; while Joseph - the beloved son - becomes a symbol of the Son of God, Jesus:
Joseph was given a coat of many colours by Jacob. Similarly, God said of Jesus, "This is my beloved Son, hear him"
Joseph's brothers hated him, especially for his suggestion that he would somehow rule over them. Similarly, Israel rejected Jesus as their King
Joseph was deemed to be as good as dead. Jesus was crucified
Meanwhile, Joseph became great amongst the Egyptians. Similarly, the Kingdom of God (the Gospel of salvation) was taken away from the Jews, and today Jesus is received as King primarily by Gentile individuals rather than by Jews
Joseph became a provider of food, a sustainer of life, a saviour from certain death, to the Egyptians during the famine. Similarly, to many of the Gentiles, Jesus is understood to be the Saviour from sin and death
But one day, Jacob's eleven sons bowed to Joseph, even though they had no idea what had become of him: Joseph was revealed to them. Similarly, many individuals from amongst the tribes of Israel will one day say of Jesus, "blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" and "they shall look upon him whom they have pierced, and shall mourn for him, like an only son". Many of the Jews will yet acknowledge that God has made this Jesus, whom they crucified, both Lord and Christ. Jesus will reveal who He is to the individual
Like Joseph who forgave his brothers, and did not refuse them food, Jesus will now forgive any individual Jew who now comes to him, saying to them, "You meant it for harm (the crucifixion), but God meant it for good (to save many, through the cross)
Is that something like how you take the Scriptures too?
Sorry this was a bit long, but I didn't know how to make it shorter!