One interesting story is the story of Noah's Ark. God saw the wickedness of man and chose Noah to build an ark and save his family and pairs of every kind of animal from the great flood.
The story of Joseph is quite remarkable. Sold into slavery by his brothers, he ended up in Egypt. Through his God - given ability to interpret dreams, he rose to a position of power. He was able to save his family from famine, which shows how God can use difficult circumstances to bring about good. His story also emphasizes forgiveness as he forgave his brothers for what they had done to him.
These stories can inspire greater faith. Reading about the great deeds and trials of the people in the Old Testament can encourage readers to face their own challenges with more trust in God. For example, the perseverance of Job in the face of extreme suffering can give people strength in their own tough times. Moreover, it can also help in building a sense of community within a religious group as people study and discuss these stories together.
They can deepen our faith by showing the great power of God in the stories. For example, when God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites, it shows His ability to perform miracles.
One of the main themes is the relationship between God and His people. It shows how God chose the Israelites, made covenants with them, and guided them. Another theme is the concept of sin and redemption. The stories often depict the people's disobedience and God's mercy in forgiving them when they repent.
The age of the Old Testament stories is difficult to pinpoint precisely. They have been passed down and developed over a long period, likely spanning several millennia.
I'm not entirely sure specifically which '87' stories you are referring to. However, in the Old Testament, the concept of 'the beast' can be related to various symbolic or literal interpretations. For example, in the book of Daniel, there are visions of strange beasts that represent kingdoms or powers. Each beast has distinct characteristics that signify different aspects of worldly rule and its relationship with the divine.
The Exodus is a very significant event. It's when the Israelites were led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses. Another one is the creation of the world as described in the book of Genesis.