Thursday: Drama, Symbols, Parables
Daily Lesson for Thursday 29th of October 2026
The Bible has a rich variety of word pictures and metaphors. For example, the whole Old Testament sacrificial system of patriarchal altars, the Mosaic tabernacle, and the temple in Jerusalem was a pictographic representation of Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross and His heavenly priesthood (Hebrews 8:1-6).
In the prophecies of Daniel, the kingdoms and powers in the world were represented by the different parts of a great image (Daniel 2:31-45), various animals and horns (Daniel 7:1-28 and 8), and two kings (Daniel 11:1-45). Similar representations appear also in the book of Revelation, as in the case of the two beasts of chapter 13.
In His teachings, Jesus spoke of Himself, for instance, as the Bread of Life (John 6:35,41-58), the Light of the world (John 8:12, John 9:5), and the True Vine (John 15:1-8). And through the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9,18-23) and several other ones (Matthew 13:24-52, etc.), Jesus illustrated the nature and growth of His kingdom.
Read Ezekiel 4:1-8. Why do you think God not only spoke verbally but also dramatized some of His messages?
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
A vivid dramatization appears in Ezekiel 4:1-8, where God asked the prophet to make a miniature model of Jerusalem and to lay himself down, first on his left side for 390 days, representing the house of Israel, and then on his right side for 40 days, representing the house of Judah. Another visual experience was Hosea’s divinely ordained marriage to Gomer, a prostitute, representing Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness to God (Hosea 1:2-9).
The dramatic experiences of Ezekiel and Hosea seem quite shocking today. But that was the point: they were supposed to be shocking, not just to us but also to the people back then. At a time when the warnings of the prophets were openly rejected (see 2 Chronicles 36:15-21), the last act of divine mercy was to dramatically alert the people to their true condition in order to lead them to genuine repentance. Such a dramatic presentation certainly should have shown them how seriously they should have taken God’s warning to them.
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What kind of dramatization might someone do today to warn us about, say, being Laodicean? (See Revelation 3:14-18.) |
My son and I have or had careers that involved mathematics, but we think quite differently. I tend to draw mind pictures of mathematical ideas to understand them, while my son tends to work abstractly. That probably explains why my son is much better at maths than me. He has a PhD in maths and works in an industry that requires abstract thinking to produce real results. Most people are like me. We are visual thinkers and use mind pictures to understand ideas.
Sometimes we think of Christianity as deeply abstract and use language that does not relate to us visually. I have heard whole sermons on grace that have been so devoid of visual imagery they sounded like they were written by an Artificial Intelligence Bot that has only been exposed to a theological dictionary. It is a no-brainer that the whole basis of our salvation in an expression of love acted out in real life with the death and resurrection of Jesus. That picture sears into our brains, whether we accept it or not.
So much of our “spreading the Gospel” effort goes into trying to convince others about the abstraction of Christianity. We want to convert people to our view of history, our interpretation of unseeable things happening in heaven, the nature of the Godhead, and so on. The picture we need to share is the story of Jesus and his sacrificial love. And the way to do that is by living the picture. We need live the visual and let the abstraction follow as a consequence. That is how most people’s brains work.
In this last text, God gave hs son to the human race. When I was a child, I was given a dog which I named Sandy. He became my faithful companion for many years and marks the deepest feelings and memories of my pre-teen years. To be given another being to play, feed, treasure is the greatest of gifts. As an adult, I was given a wife, then children. When God gave his Son, it became our greatest gift.
God at times communicated His messages through physical actions when words alone were insufficient. In Ezekiel 4:1–8, the prophet dramatized the coming siege of Jerusalem, while Hosea’s marriage in Hosea 1:2–9 illustrated God’s pain over Israel’s unfaithfulness. These dramatic acts made God’s warnings visible and personal. Ultimately, the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ became the greatest demonstration of God’s love for humanity.
God used familiar objects and images to communicate profound spiritual truths. The sacrificial system, tabernacle, and temple pointed forward to Christ’s atoning ministry (Hebrews 8:1–6), while the statue in Daniel 2 and the beasts in Daniel 7–8 represented earthly kingdoms under God’s sovereignty. Jesus also used everyday symbols, calling Himself the Bread of Life (John 6:35), the Light of the World (John 8:12), and the True Vine (John 15:1), helping people understand spiritual realities through familiar experiences.
In the new testament Jesus communicated the mysteries of God’s kingdom through parables and simple stories drawn from everyday life, including farming, fishing, family relationships, and social gatherings. Yet these stories often challenged conventional thinking, as seen in the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), where an unexpected hero demonstrated what it means to love one’s neighbour. Parables invited sincere listeners to seek deeper understanding while exposing the closed hearts of those unwilling to receive the truth (Matthew 13:15). Through them, Jesus transformed ordinary stories into powerful invitations to faith and spiritual growth.
Motanya – thank you for sharing your thoughts. You state: “Parables invited sincere listeners to seek deeper understanding while exposing the closed hearts of those unwilling to receive the truth (Matt.13-15).
Over the many years since I have come to believe Jesus Christ, the blessings of greater understanding of God’s Truth still increase.
Over time, the Holy Spirit greatly refined my understanding of God’s Truth revealed in His Word and removed many layers of incomplete understanding to expose a deeper, more complete perception of God’s Truth.
Though Jesus made every effort to communicate the Father’s Truth, His Truth cannot be easily communicated because it can only be spiritually discerned. The Holy Spirit stands ready to reveal God’s Truth to the sincere seekers – John 16:7-15.
God is a master communicator. In diverse times, God has communicated to mankind in diverse ways, not only through spoken and written words but also through drama, symbols, parables, and enacted illustrations. God uses unique and diverse methods to make spiritual truths visible, memorable and compelling. He wants to draw our attention and understanding to His truths, so no one has an excuse for not being saved.
In time past, God instructed prophet Ezekiel to dramatise the spiritual condition of Israel and the siege of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4–5). Also, Hosea’s marriage became a living illustration of Israel’s unfaithfulness and God’s persistent love (Hosea 1–3). The key lessons in these two incidents are that lived experiences or visible actions communicate a more powerful message than a sermon.
Jesus used parables of familiar things- a farmer sowing seed, a lost sheep, a prodigal son to reveal truths about God’s kingdom and the human heart (Matthew 13; Luke 15). At times, ordinary experiences can cause profound spiritual reflection, bringing repentance.
The Bible uses a lot of symbols – light, darkness, bread, water, shepherd, vine, lampstands, beasts, seals and other images to communicate spiritual realities. What is visibly seen may cause us to consider deeper truths about God, life, judgment, hope and our spiritual condition.
God is still using drama, symbols and parables all around us to draw our attention. God is speaking to us through contemporary events – wars, natural disasters, injustice, and social upheavals to remind us that we need a Saviour. Jesus referred to troubling end times in Matthew 24 to warn us to be ready for His second coming. God is speaking to us through our personal circumstances. For example, a failed relationship may reveal misplaced priorities; an encounter with someone in need may challenge our spirituality. These incidents may become points of spiritual conviction.
In all ways, ultimately, God has spoken through His Son, and He is speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. The challenge is this: Are we so accustomed to hearing God that we have failed to recognise His call for repentance?
The classic saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” is very appropriate even when it comes to biblical imagery. Jesus was a master at using “word pictures” to help get his points across. The Holy Spirit used this method extensively throughout the inspiration of scripture, especially with prophecy. It becomes a type of mnemonic device to help your brain store, retain, and recall information more easily. The Holy Spirit is a most effective teacher who employs multiple modes of learning.
The most effective communicators do likewise by using storytelling, and activating the senses of their audience. Word pictures are especially powerful because once you see something, either literally or in your “mind’s eye,” it’s difficult to unsee it.
Excellent point. Good teachers are good because they understand how our brain works.
When I read about Ellen White going into vision given to her by God some were just as shocking as Hosea and Ezekiel of Thursdays lesson. Yes, some were more down-to-earth visions, like in Steps to Christ page 116. Read it now, or if you prefer make a mental note of the page and read it later from your copy of the book.
https://egwwritings.org/read?panels=p108.465&index=0
Some of her visions were given right during a meeting. I do believe the Lord gave the vision that way to help the unbelievers of her visions believe by a 1st hand observation of her in vision. Like in the time of Ezekiel and Hosea mankind tends to be weak in turning back to the Lord or are set in their ways and need a shock to get their attention to believe, and to what is the pleasure of the Lord. Which is to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord. Like the Bible God instructed her to write all down so that all may benefit. I hope you read Hosea 4:1-8, it and the Steps to Christ passage helps us better understand of what I am talking about.
Thank God for the prophets He sent us, instructing them to write the message down. 🙏
We live in a culture accustomed to comfort, refinement, and the avoidance of anything that disturbs our senses. Consequently, we may tend to reject anything in religion that shocks, unsettles, or makes us uncomfortable, assuming that it could not be from God—or that it no longer applies to us today.
But we must remember: sin itself is not appetizing; it is repulsive. God’s prophets sometimes exposed sin in deliberately uncomfortable ways because sin, when seen for what it truly is, should make us uncomfortable.
Perhaps one danger of modern Christianity is that we have become so accustomed to making the gospel attractive that we sometimes make sin itself appear harmless. Yet genuine repentance requires us to see sin as God sees it—something destructive that separates us from Him and must ultimately be eliminated.
God’s shocking messages were not expressions of cruelty; they were expressions of mercy. When God could not get His people’s attention through ordinary words, He was willing to disturb their peace of mind through dramatic means.
Sadly, many are offended by the sternness found in Ellen White’s writings because they prefer a message that makes them feel good about themselves. But a message that merely makes us feel comfortable may not be the message we most need to hear.
God’s message of mercy comes not to entertain, frighten, or gratify curiosity, but to awaken the conscience and make us uncomfortable enough to repent.
This is so true. We love to hear what our minds or hearts would love to hear. Forgetting that what we truly need to hear are words that will wake us up from the sins we’re normalising.
Infinite Love can’t be squeezed into a time frame, and each one of us is actually inseparable from Love, inseparable from God, our creator.
Sometimes divine goodness may seem hidden from view. It may seem that God is distant and that the outlook for oneself or others is bleak. Yet Christ Jesus showed in so many ways through his works that even during difficult circumstances, God’s love and the spiritual completeness He is always expressing in His spiritual image, man, are constant. We can follow Jesus’ example and prove, even in small ways
I think it’s worth spending some time reading the texts mentioned in today’s lesson and visualizing the images.
I am currently reading a book on the Revelation as drama, complete with stage directions. I won’t mention the author, because his interpretation is way off. But my husband encountered the idea of Revelation as drama about 60 years ago through an Andrews University professor whose Hebrew class he audited. In the AU library, I discovered that the Interpreter’s Bible also presented Revelation as a 7-act drama, each having 7 scenes. That really opened up Revelation for me, because it became a tightly organized whole for me, rather than just disconnected visions.
About 40 or so years ago, Mervyn Maxwell encouraged my husband to finish his manuscript on the subject, but it is sadly still “in progress.” It occurred to me that we need a Revelation course based on a simple outline of the drama, with some explanation and thought-provoking and study-provoking questions. (I believe the usual catechistic approach does not do the book justice.) With the grace of God and my teaching background, perhaps I could create such a course.
Would that interest you?
Inge, I would find that to be most interesting. Perhaps you can use your husband’s manuscript as a foundation and thus help him in completing it. It could be a team effort. Sometimes the writing takes so much out of a person that they get burned out with it and shelve it. Your idea could revive and complete something that has been “mothballed” and waiting for such a time as this. Give it some serious thought and prayer. I believe that God has given you that idea. Allow Him to help you develop it. In doing so you can accomplish two purposes in one project.
Thanks, Tim. It has definitely been a joint effort. But I quit after the 4th or 5th revision, having edited the previous ones. 😉
Right now, we are studying Revelation in prayer meeting, and I’m looking at the manuscript and the book of Revelation more closely again.
In working on the manuscript again, it occurred to me that we need a simpler, interactive set of lessons, leaning on my classroom experience.
My English classes were notorious for students getting me “off-track,” while discussions went where I wanted them to go. Students telling me they learned more Bible in my classes than in the official “Bible” class in academy was rewarding.
When I taught in a secular high school, students brought up practical subjects close to them, and I prayerfully asked questions to help them discover biblical life principles for themselves.
Now I need to know how to implement a similar experience online, keeping in mind that I don’t have 24 hours a day to spend.
That’s also how I would like our online Sabbath School discussions to feel, but the questions in the official lessons are still too catechistic, and many of our readers are too eager to write the “correct answers” in great detail! 😢 And that limits intellectual and spiritual engagement.
Inge, how about “Revealing Revelation, a conversational approach”? Sometimes we just need to peel away the theological and take the practical approach. What are the practical teachings in the book, beyond the symbols and types, and how can I apply it in my everyday life?
I like the title, “Revealing Revelation,” but I’m thinking of helping people see the organization and structure of the book, which helps to understand its meaning. It’s just an idea right now, and it will take time to develop.
I believe so too. We would like to see and read a book like that. From what you said it would not be a book to entertain, frighten, or gratify curiosity, rather to enrich the message of Revelation, drawing us closer to the One who Revelation is all about, Jesus our Saviour victorious, thus us victorious. Yes, reading most of Tim’s posts I am sure he could be an asset. Me, I could humbly purchase copies to read and share with family and friends. Go for it Inge.
Thank you, John. Yes, the whole book of Revelation reveals who Jesus is and what He did and is doing in the great controversy between Him and Satan.
H’mm … Yes, maybe Tim could be a good sounding board. 😉
Man! What a God ! Behold His Communicative Versatility ! From the very dawn of Creation story, His splendid diversity, articulated by the manifold diversification of plant and animal life, speaks of His amazing personality.
Then throughout redemption story, the straight- forward messages, the parables, the drama, the visions and the masterpice of communicative ingenuity – the Emmanuel – God Himself with us – Jesus the Christ. I challenge both you and myself to begin to “think outside the box”. What novel, unusual, mind- gripping manner can I use today to communicate the Gospel of Jesus Christ to my world.
Even as I type to you I sense a quiet excitement concerning what the Spirit may reveal – He who is the most powerful communicator the world has ever known.