First 10 books

"Mom, kwani ulinizaa ndio ukue ukinitumatuma!?"

That was the question a young boy asked after being sent on what felt like his millionth errand of the day. Visitors had come to the house, and his mother had suddenly discovered a hundred things that needed doing. The moment he asked the question, the whole room burst into laughter because many of us have either thought that question or actually asked it when we were children.

Parents have a tendency of turning their children into small helpers #KYMs. Suddenly, there is someone to fetch the remote even though it is only a few steps away, someone to bring a glass of water from the kitchen and smeone to go downstairs and check whether the gate is closed. Tasks that parents once did for themselves somehow become the responsibility of the children. Do you relate?

But, of course, that is not why children are born but that boys question brings us to a much bigger question: Why are we here? Every human being must eventually wrestle with the question of purpose. For most people, purpose can be summarized quite simply: live, make a living, and leave the earth.

But for believers, the question becomes much deeper. As Christians, our purpose is not merely to live, earn a living, and wait to die. It is about living for someone, aligning our lives with his purposes and participating in his plan. It is not about waiting for the day we leave the earth, but looking forward to the day we reign with Him.

For believers, the question of purpose falls into three categories in my opinion:

1. Who is behind all this?

2. What is the plan?

3. What is my place in that plan?

In other words: The person, the plan and my place. What amazes me further is that these three questions are answered in the opening books of Scripture. If you understand these foundational books, you will understand the planner, the plan, and your place within it.

The first question is:

Who is behind all this?

The book of Genesis answers that immediately. It begins with one of the most profound statements ever written: "In the beginning, God..." Before there was creation, there was God, before there was humanity, there was God and before there was history, there was God.

Genesis introduces us to the Person behind everything.

From its opening chapters all the way through the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and others, we watch God interacting with human beings in a remarkably personal way. What is especially interesting is that these people related with God without many of the things we consider essential today. They had no Bible, they had no church buildings and they had no pastors, bishops, apostles, or spiritual mentors.

Adam and Eve had no previous generation to learn from. Cain and Abel had sinners as examples to follow. Enoch simply walked with God and that was normal. Abraham was called out of a people who had lost their way and he followed God into the unknown. These men and women were discovering God as they went along. Their relationship with Him was deeply personal. They were friends with God. So as you read Genesis, one major question should remain in your mind: Who is this God? Who is the persona behind everything? Genesis answers the first question of purpose by introducing us to the planner Himself.

The second question is:

What is the plan?

What exactly is this God up to? Why all of this? This question is answered primarily in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Exodus reveals God's desire to restore humanity to Himself. Human beings are unique among God's creation. There are angels, humans and animals but only human beings were created in the image and likeness of God. They occupy a special place in His heart but at some point became separated from Him. That's why in Exodus we find God declaring: "I have seen their suffering. I have heard their cry. I have come down." His first great agenda is salvaging what He lost, and he decides to start with a small family of a man called Jacob. This is the large scale salvaging, because it had worked with Grandpa Abraham.

He acts decisively to rescue His people from bondage. Through signs, wonders, and the ten plagues, He humbles Egypt and delivers Israel. But salvaging/salvation is only the beginning. In Leviticus and Deuteronomy, God establishes structures for life with Him.

He teaches His people how to live, how to worship, how to relate to one another and how to remain distinct from the nations around them. At the heart of all these laws is one word: Love - Love God and love His creation. Basically, love the planner and His plan. Everything else flows from that.

It is the simplest command because it is only one command, yet it is the hardest command because it touches every part of life.

Then comes Numbers. In Numbers we see another aspect of God's plan. God begins separating those who embrace His ways from those who reject them. God said "attack!" they asked "sisi?" That led to forty years in the wilderness and doubters are separated from the believers. This distinction becomes increasingly clear. Some trust God others rebel against Him. An entire generation perishes in the wilderness because they refuse to walk according to His purposes.

The lesson is unmistakable; God saves, sets up structures and then separates those who believe in Him from those who doubt Him. That is the broad outline of the divine plan.

• He desires to save humanity.
• He prescribes a way of life for those He saves.
• He ultimately separates those who embrace His purposes from those who reject them.

Once you understand these truths, you have begun to understand the heart of God's plan.

But then comes the third question and for you personally, it may be the most important question of all.

What is my place?

Once you know who God is and once you understand His plan, you must decide what you are going to do about it.

The books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles answer the question of our place in that plan.

Remember what God said in Exodus? "I have come down." God moved first, took the initiative and covered the greatest distance between Himself and humanity. Yet there remains a response that only we can make. Someone once illustrated it this way: imagine there are ten paces between you and God. God gladly takes nine steps toward you, but He leaves the final step for you to take. He invites, calls, reveals Himself, but He will never force anyone into His kingdom.

The book of Joshua begins with a fascinating encounter. Joshua meets the Commander of the Lord's army and asks: "Are you for us or for our enemies?" The answer is unexpected. "Neither." In other words, God does not come to take sides. He is the side. The real question is not whether God is on our side but whether we are on His. Joshua understood this immediately and he bowed before the Lord and surrendered himself completely.

That is the beginning of finding your place -  salvation. Interestingly, the name Joshua means "The Lord saves." Before we can participate in God's kingdom, we must first belong to it.

The book of Judges then reminds us that salvation is not the end of the journey but rather the beginning. Every person who follows God will eventually be tested. Some remain faithful while others drift away and others abandon the path altogether. Judges teaches us the consequences of turning from God and the blessings of returning to Him. The message is simple: Do not merely begin well, finish well.

Then we come to Samuel. Samuel introduces us to the principle of reward. Not everyone responds to God in the same way. Saul begins with promise but drifts away. David pursues God's heart despite his failures and weaknesses. God describes David as a man after His own heart and God rewards him.

The promise given to David was extraordinary. A king would always arise from his line. That promise ultimately points to Jesus Christ, the Son of David and the eternal King. Samuel teaches us that God rewards faithfulness.

Jesus later taught the same principle through His parables. Servants were entrusted with responsibilities. When the master returned, each servant was evaluated. Those who were faithful received greater responsibility. Those who were unfaithful lost what had been entrusted to them. Faithfulness matters.

There is reward for those who persevere. There is remuneration for those who remain loyal to the King.

This brings us to Kings and Chronicles. These books show us what ruling under God's authority looks like. King after king appears on the stage of history. Some are faithful, some are wicked some begin well and finish poorly while others begin poorly and end well. These books are more than history. They're prophetic books among the Hebrews. They are a training manual for future rulers. They reveal what God values in leadership and what He rejects. Most importantly, they point beyond every earthly king to the perfect King.

• Unlike Saul, Jesus never disobeyed.
• Unlike David, Jesus never sinned.
• Unlike Solomon, His wisdom never failed.
• Unlike the kings of Israel and Judah, His kingdom will never end.

That brings us back to our purpose. The story that begins in Genesis with God creating humanity ends with redeemed humanity reigning with Christ.

Scripture describes believers as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and heirs together with Christ. So what is your place?

• Joshua teaches us how to be saved.
• Judges teaches us to remain faithful.
• Samuel teaches us that faithfulness is rewarded.
• Kings and Chronicles teach us how to rule under God's authority.

The Person, the Plan and your Place. If you understand this three things, you have understood the foundation of the biblical story. Everything else in Scripture simply builds upon them.