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Stories give us thread. They help us weave together moments, events, desires, and hopes. They pull together what’s separate. They make one of many, and in doing so help us understand who and where we are in the world.
The Story of God with Us follows the same pattern. It gives us the thread (already there in Scripture) to unite various revelations of God’s presence throughout the Bible. And the goal is to instruct, encourage, and comfort kids, though adults benefit just as well. The authors focus on what’s arguably one of the most important teachings of Scripture: God is with his people. We need reminders of this again and again. This is a thread worth staring at. And so are the lively illustrations by Aedan Peterson. His luminous illustrations and the measured wording from Padgett and Gregorie (authors of The Forgotten King) combine for a powerful effect: an awe and assurance that we have now and will have in the glorious future what we’ve always longed for: a dwelling place with God.
A Biblical Theology of Presence
The Story of God with Us is what we call a biblical theology. Biblical theology takes a theme in the Bible and traces its development, from Genesis to Revelation. It helps readers see the patterns in Scripture, enabling us to appreciate both the unity of God’s word and its richness. And one of the most relevant themes for kids is that God is present with them. Though they can’t see him or hear him or touch him, he is present. He stays. The Story of God with Us shows how that’s true at various stages of what we call redemptive history. All throughout the book—uniting Eden, Sinai, and the New Jerusalem—are the following lines, simple and beautiful.
So He could dwell with us,
and we with Him.
Always and forever,
world without end.
This is the divine reasoning behind God’s promise of redemption in Genesis 3:15, the tower of Babel, the calling of Abraham, the exodus of the Israelites, the rise and fall of kings, and—of course—the coming of God himself in Jesus Christ.
He came into the world as light . . .
To face the darkness on His own.
Defeating death, He filled the whole world with life.
And rose to His royal throne.
The giving of the Spirit and the final consummation of all things in the new heavens and new earth both tie into the presence of God with his people. God has done all so that we would be with him. Personal presence—that’s what we’ve always wanted. That’s what we have right now. And that’s what we’re longing for in fullness when our days have been spent.
And yet the authors are also keen to show children that they are part of this story. They are the recipients of God’s presence. This is their story. That truth is hard to believe, though a child’s mind is often more quick to pounce on it than we are.
Hold the Thread
Of the many threads out there, of all the stories, this is one to clutch tightly. There is little hope for any of us if God isn’t present. Thank him that he is! All throughout the Bible, all throughout our lives, God is present. And one day, we’ll be present with him in ways beyond words, world without end.
Watch a reading of the book from the publisher here:
The Story of God with Us - Audiobook Video from Wolfbane Books on Vimeo.
