In Genesis, the writer explains to the audience about the life of Abraham by using sparse but telling language to give an account of Abraham’s life. One of the predominant showing versus telling stories would be in the explanation of Abraham’s theophany. This occurs in Genesis 15:1-21 when God appears to Abraham in a vision at night. The passage states that the Lord said to Abraham “Fear not Abram, I am your shield. Your reward shall be very great” (15:1). The lord goes on to tell Abraham the he shouldn’t worry because he will have many heirs. He even goes as far as to explain to Abraham “his seed shall be as numerous as the stars.” (15:5). Later the Lord reappears in another vision to Abraham. This time the Lord had come to make a covenant with Ab

raham saying, “To your seed I have given this land from the river of Egypt to the great river the river Euphrates: the river Kenite and the Kenizite and the Kadononite and the Hittie and the Perizite and the Rephaim and the Amorite and the Canaanite and the Girgashite and the Jebusite.” (15:18-21)

This is because by showing rather than telling it has made people more open to listen to the ideas when they feel they are being told a story rather than being given instructions, or laws to live by. What some however aren’t aware of is that while hearing parables they are not only a cool story, but that within that story there are instructions to live by. It is easier for me to use the Bible as a document that supports what I believe in when it talks in a manor that is showing. It is both easier for me to read, as well as easier for me to explain. Another reason that the style of writing makes a difference for me is because I am Mormon. The showing versus telling of the Bible fits in with the same style that is displayed in the Book of Mormon. For me it is just another way to bring the two scriptures together.

As Robert Alter suggests the change of verb type from perfective to imperfective when the Lord says “To your seed I have given “(15:18) goes along with the large narrative pattern of the story of Abraham. It suggests that the Lord has already fulfilled this promise to Abraham and that he should have nothing to worry about because it has already been done. Of course this is just what we a

Some topics in this essay:
Robert Alter, , Bible Bible, Lord Abraham, Psalms Parables, Throughout Mark, Abraham Lord, story abraham, Book Mormon, versus telling, Girgashite Jebusite”, story abraham narrative, story instructions, abraham narrative, hagar assures, percent bible, telling language, “to seed, bible bible, bible easier,