The first story that we are all familiar with is the story of creation.
Now, when reading the Bible, it is very important to remember that some parts were written metaphorically, for metaphors transcend the test of time and are things that we can ALL understand.
This is especially important with the story of creation. Did God truly create the universe in only SEVEN DAYS? Probably not. Was He really so meticulous that He created EVERY form of life in one day? It's unlikely, considering we discover new things to this day.
Recently, this line blew my mind; I have always heard it spoken, but never truly comprehended its meaning. God has created us in HIS likeness, meaning that we LOOK LIKE HIM 馃檹 I always used to perceive God as one of the fabled trillion-eyed angels, but we were created in the likeness of angels as well. This is a mind blowing thought! 馃く
The next important story is mankind's exile from the Garden of Eden. Many people like to question, "Why would God put the tree of knowledge in the Garden just to make Adam and Eve sin? 馃"
While I cannot answer why God placed the tree in the garden (the fruit could be a metaphor, after all), I can tell you that God did not "make" them sin. God granted us freewill to rule over His creation; He does not control us.
Again, keep in mind that the Garden of Eden was God's earliest interaction with man, and He was just as new at it as we were. My children may have come from me; this doesn't mean I can be sure of everything they will do. And, again, the point is the MESSAGE. God explicitly told Adam and Eve what NOT to do, they disobeyed, and they and all of mankind were punished for doing so.
Which leads me to my next part: the Garden of Eden was eternal life, and we have since been exiled to humanly earth. Eternal life was never promised to us on earth; rather, God promised us pain, suffering, disease, and death for our disobedience. Harsh? sure! But then you have to remember, this is Old Testament God -- He did not make a forgiving covenant with us until our relationship with Jesus.
The next story is of Noah and the Ark. The people of the world became corrupt and wicked. Nobody bothered to remember God, save for one man and his family. So, God had mercy on Noah, and allowed to mankind to try again, through him. After flooding the earth, God made a covenant with us.
