Adventure In The Bible: Greatest Stories And Verses
Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
One of the core values of our family is the word adventure. Our lives revolve around this term. We’re the types of people that really despise the normal, Christian, American life. Rather than focus on the accumulation of stuff like cars, toys, and big houses, we prefer to accumulate experiences. These are the kinds of things that produce a good story at the end of your life. There are so many stories of adventure in the Bible, that I thought it would be a really good post to outline some of the adventures and how they apply to us today.
Part of creating adventure is listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit and following His wisdom that He freely gives to us. Adventure can mean the testing of your faith while also meaning departing from your normal comfort zone in search of things that are eternal. Living life in full color is what separates those who merely live from those who choose to truly be alive. Discovering adventure in the Bible will show us how the provision of the Lord is imperative.
The Exodus (Book of Exodus)
The story of the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt, led by Moses, and their journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land.
Scripture reference: Exodus 1-15
- Oppression in Egypt (Exodus 1): The Israelites, descendants of Jacob, are enslaved by the Egyptians under harsh conditions. Despite oppression, their population continues to grow, leading Pharaoh to issue orders for the death of Hebrew male babies. The birth of Moses, his rescue by Pharaoh’s daughter, and his upbringing in Pharaoh’s palace set the stage for the adventure to come.
- Call of Moses (Exodus 3-4): Moses encounters God at the burning bush and is called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Initially hesitant due to his own insecurities, Moses eventually accepts the call, marking the beginning of his adventure as the leader of God’s people.
- Plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7-12): God sends ten plagues upon Egypt to demonstrate His power and compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites. Each plague increases in severity, culminating in the death of the firstborn in every Egyptian household during the Passover. These events create a sense of suspense and anticipation as the Israelites await their liberation.
- The Exodus (Exodus 12-15): With the final plague, Pharaoh finally relents and allows the Israelites to leave Egypt. The Israelites embark on their journey of liberation, led by Moses. They face immediate challenges, such as the pursuit of Pharaoh’s army and the crossing of the Red Sea. The parting of the Red Sea is a dramatic moment of divine intervention. It symbolizes the miraculous deliverance of God’s people from bondage. The crossing of the Red Sea marks the climax of the adventure. We see the Israelites witness the defeat of their oppressors and begin their journey toward the Promised Land.
Relation To Adventure in the Bible
What this adventure in the bible teaches us is that the adventures in God’s word are similar to the adventures we are called to accept in our own lives. We see that the sorts of places we are called to enter into may lead us to encounter many dangers along the word. Oftentimes, these adventures lead to a path of life we were not expecting nor do we understand.
The New Testament teaches us not to lean on our own understanding. This is difficult for many of us to do. However, what we see at the end of this adventure is the perseverance of the people of Israel. This, in turn, brings the fullness of joy and eternal glory when we choose to follow God’s plan. Fighting the good fight of the faith will lead to trials of many kinds. However, the words of the Bible will lead us to the promised land.
The Wilderness of the Israelites from Egypt
​Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, through the parted Red Sea, and their subsequent journey in the wilderness.
Scripture reference: Exodus 14-40
Crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 14): After leaving Egypt, the Israelites find themselves trapped between the pursuing Egyptian army and the Red Sea. In a miraculous display of God’s power, Moses stretches out his hand. Then the Red Sea is parted, allowing the Israelites to cross on dry land. The pursuing Egyptians are engulfed by the returning waters, and the Israelites witness the salvation and deliverance of God.
Journey through the Wilderness (Exodus 15-18): Following their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites journey through the wilderness of Shur, Marah, and Elim, facing challenges such as lack of water and food. God provides for their needs by miraculously sweetening bitter water. He also sends manna from heaven, and causes water to flow from a rock at Horeb.
Encounters at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19-24): The Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai, where God reveals Himself in thunder, lightning, and smoke. Moses ascends the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments and other laws from God. This establishes the covenant between God and the Israelites. The people agree to obey God’s commands, marking a crucial moment in their relationship with God.
Construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-40): God instructs Moses to build the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary where God will dwell among His people. The Israelites contribute materials and skills for its construction, and skilled artisans craft the various elements according to God’s specifications. Once completed, the Tabernacle is set up, and God’s glory fills the tent, signifying His presence among His people.
Relation to Adventure in the Bible
The story of Moses and the Israelites does not end in Chapter 15. We see the Israelites enter the wilderness full of wild animals and lacking in resources. God then provides the needed resources in order for the Israelites to not only survive but thrive. The wilderness is one of the great stories of adventure in the Bible.
This is true of our stories as well. When God leads us into the wilderness of the unknown, He always provides a way for us. He is the God of all grace after all. As we ponder what the wilderness looks like in our own lives, we begin to see that He is leading us to a place “flowing with milk and honey”. He is bringing about “a new thing”. The wilderness forces us to lean on the biblical truths of grace, hope, and promise.
The Journey of Abraham (Genesis)
Abraham’s journey from his homeland to the land of Canaan, as God promised to make him the father of a great nation.
Scripture reference: Genesis 12:1-9
​God’s Call to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3): God speaks to Abram, commanding him to leave his homeland, his relatives, and his father’s house and to go to a land that God will show him. In return, God promises to make Abram into a great nation, bless him, and make his name great. God also promises to bless those who bless Abram and curse those who curse him, and through Abram, all the families of the earth will be blessed.
Abram’s Response (Genesis 12:4-6): Abram obeys God’s command and departs from Haran at the age of 75, taking his wife Sarai (later renamed Sarah), his nephew Lot, and all their possessions. They journey to the land of Canaan, the land promised to Abram by God.
Arrival in Canaan (Genesis 12:7): When Abram arrives in Canaan, God appears to him again and reaffirms the promise of the land to his descendants. Abram responds by building an altar to worship God.
Continued Journey (Genesis 12:8-9): From there, Abram continues his journey, moving southward to the hill country east of Bethel. He builds another altar and calls upon the name of the Lord, demonstrating his devotion and obedience to God’s call.
Relation to Adventure in the Bible
Call to Adventure: Abram’s call to adventure is one of immense faith. He is called to forsake everyday life as he’s known it to pursue the call of God. The life of faith requires us to trust that God’s adventures for our lives will be worth the hard times that will inevitably face us along the way.
Journey into the Unknown: We see Abram being called into the unknown. This is how adventure typically occurs. He asks us to embark on new experiences that often force sleepless nights, a frequent journey into areas we’ve never been before, and embrace the long journey in pursuit of His calling.
Faith and Obedience: By remembering the promises given to Abram in those ancient days, we can “count it as pure joy when we’re faced with trials of many kinds”. The Christian life is built on faith. In order to fully experience the good things promised to us, we must endure through faith and trust that the good news is exactly what the Bible says it is.
As we see through the amazing people of the bible times, frequent journeys into the unknown is a game changer when it comes to finding adventure in our day-to-day lives. When we look back on our lives, the key events we will remember are likely to be the ones where we took a hands-on approach to finding true adventure. We have found that freedom lies in adventure. Finding adventure is hard work, but it’s absolutely worth it.
About the Author
John Claborn
Hi! I’m John. Author of the post you just read. I like to write about all things adventure. Mostly things to help people live more adventurous lives and care for their families in a more meaningful way. By day, I’m a COO. By night, I’m a rad dad of 4 kids that I don’t deserve and a husband to a woman I can’t understand how I got. My goal is to show freedom to people through adventure and experiences.
