The Big Picture Story Bible

Yesterday morning I read through The Big Picture Story Bible. Reading the whole book through (which can be done, quickly, in about 35-40 minutes) yielded the same results as my previous skim reading of the book: this is an excellent book! This is a great book for both children and adults to read to gain the big idea/story line of the entire Bible. The writing is excellent. The illustrations are excellent. The way the author summarizes the broad sweep of the Bible into 450 pages was also, excellent. There were, however, a couple of things I would've liked to have seen done differently in the book. Here they are:

• There ought to have been a page or two devoted to Abraham's almost sacrifice of Isaac. This event would've certainly helped fill out the motif of sacrificed & substitution that runs through the book.
• It would've also been helpful had the book included mention of the Tabernacle.
• Though it is implicitly mentioned, the book ought to have made explicit mention and explanation of Jesus' virgin birth.
• I think the crucifixion of Jesus was dealt with too quickly. Since at the crucifixion we are reaching the climax of God's story, the book ought to have slowed down at the cross, made mention of how Jesus was beaten before he hung on the cross, and then given a full view, not a half view, illustration of our Messiah on the cross.

There. Those are all my complaints. All of these can be adequately filled in when I read this book to my son. I'll take time to fill in gaps and to really slow down and speak with him about the cross.I especially liked the last 40 or so pages of the book. The end of the book does a great job reflecting back on the beginning and middle of God's Big Story and showing how Jesus is King, having taken on the long foretold roles of serpent crusher, sacrificial substitute, King, etc.So, I encourage you to start making babies (get married first) and to start reading this book to your babies.