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When I visited Gettysburg for the first time, my imagination whirred to life. I wanted to know the men who fought there. I wanted to hear their stories, to comprehend their politics, to peek in at their way of life. Because the events that happened on that field directly impact the world I live in now. By understanding the past, I can better understand today. The same can be said of the many events related in the Bible. God\u2019s Word isn\u2019t a collection of disjointed stories. It\u2019s composed around a framework of history. By teaching ourselves biblical chronology, we are able to place stories in context, gain a logical understanding of sequence, and see the full scope of God\u2019s plan. Here are some broad historical markers and round dates to help you begin lashing individual stories into a sequential history. The prophets, books of poetry, books of law, and epistles all hang within this outline: Creation, the Flood, and earliest history: Genesis Patriarchs of the Israelite people (20001550 BC): Genesis Formation of the Israelite nation (15501380 BC): ExodusJoshua Leaders of Israel up to the Exile (1380539 BC): Judges2 Chronicles Return from the Exile (539474 BC): EzraEsther 400 years of silence Birth of Christ and the early church (AD 590): New Testament When you use this framework as a general guide, you\u2019ll begin to see human history as God has revealed it. You\u2019ll also notice right away that the Israelite people figure prominently within the story He tells. That\u2019s because He used that particular family line to reach the Bible\u2019s (and history\u2019s) climaxthe birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The next time you read from a particular book of the Bible, find out who wrote it and when. Then fit it into this rough history. You\u2019ll soon find random stories fitting together in a comprehensive wholeone redemption story centered on Jesus Christ, the only Savior from sin and death. Michelle Isenhoff Can you think of more reasons why it\u2019s important to understand biblical chronology? Why can we view Jesus as the focal point of history? All the prophets testify about him [Jesus] that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins. Acts 10:43 (CSB)\n\xa0\nRead Verses:\nJohn 8:8-10; Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:6-12