Page 27 - Biblical Theology Textbook - masters

Why Did God use Illustrations?

1. They open the widows of understanding. If our challenge in
preaching centers on our ability to help people see, then the use of
illustrations will greatly aid us. We can be faithful and clear in
unpacking the history, theological themes, and propositions of the
text and still have many who don’t quite “get it.” Like a window in an
unfamiliar room the right illustration lets in some natural light to help
them see.

2. An illustration piques the interest of the listener.

3. You can pack doctrinal truths in an illustration as you deliver the story to the students. It helps them
bridge a truth and delivers it in an emotional and realistic manner.

God, knowing the limitations of man’s mind to comprehend even a portion of God’s revelation, chose to
help man understand His redemptive plan using illustrations. In fact, we shall see that there are literally
thousands of illustrations God gave through the entire Old Testament that pointed to the coming of a
Messiah. Unfortunately, mankind during his journey through history has focused on the illustrations
rather than on the illustrator. This truth is reiterated in Romans 1:21-23

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became
futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became
22
fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and
23
animals and creeping things.

An example of an illustration given to Adam and Eve was displayed by God in dealing with their
nakedness. God could have woven some cotton plants together and made clothing for them but chose
to kill an animal and shed its blood to make garments of skins to cloth them (Genesis 3:21). They
sinned, and immediately a sheep or lamb had to die as a result of the sin to cover their nakedness. The
immediate result of sin was death, both spiritually, but ultimately physically. Romans 3:23 For the
wages of sin is death…

Evidently the sacrifice of animals and shedding of blood to cover sin was communicated to their sons,
Cain and Abel. Abel’s sacrifice of the firstborn of his flock was accepted by God; Cain’s offering of the
fruit of the ground was rejected. Here, God was illustrating to them that without the shedding of blood,
there would be no acceptance.

Hebrews 9:22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding
of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

As God deals with mankind throughout the entire Old Testament, over and over again He tried to
illustrate for all men, and specifically Israel, his own character and how He would provide redemption
for all men who would by faith receive it.
In fact, God commanded Israel to hold seven feasts every year. He told them when to celebrate them,
and what they were for. It turns out that each feast was an illustration of a past or future “God” event.
The Feast of Passover, while celebrating God’s faithfulness in passing over the homes of Israel who had
the blood on the doorposts, illustrated a future event when Messiah would come and sacrifice His blood

26