Here are just a few of the many stories about love in the Bible.
Five Bible Stories About Love
Jacob & Rachel- Old Testament Love Story
Jacob fled from Esau, his brother, and went to Haran with his mother’s family. Jacob met Rachel, Laban’s daughter while searching for his uncle Laban. She was taking care of her father’s sheep. Rachel brought Jacob to Laban, who gave Jacob a job as well as a place to live.
Jacob reached an agreement with Laban that Jacob would work for him for seven more years. Laban offered Rachel, his daughter, to Jacob in return. Genesis 29:20 says that Jacob spent seven years for Rachel. He only felt like it was a few days because of his love for her.
Laban proposed to his daughter in marriage after seven years. Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, his older sister, at the wedding. He said that it was wrong for the younger girl to marry first. According to the Bible, Jacob worked for Laban for seven more years to have Rachel as his wife.
Jacob initially agreed to a seven-year contract to marry the girl he loved. Even after his deception, he continued to work for Rachel for seven more years.
Ruth & Naomi- Women of the Bible
Naomi and her family moved from Bethlehem Judah to Moab during a severe famine. Her husband died in Moab, and her two sons were married to Moabite women. Naomi also lost her two sons and chose to return home to her homeland.
She told her daughters-in-law, who were also widowed, that she was going to be leaving them. Orpah, one of the daughters, chose to return to her people and their traditions. Ruth, however, stayed by Naomi and promised to stay by her side until the end.
Traditional wedding vows are based on the verses from Ruth 1:16-17. Ruth told Naomi: “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”
Ruth and Naomi went back to Bethlehem Judah, where Ruth married Boaz. Boaz was a relative of Naomi. They were together the great-grandparents and great-grandchildren of the great king David.
David & Jonathan- Bible Story About Loving Friends
King Saul was jealous of David, the young man. Partly because David was growing in popularity and partly because God had already warned Saul that his kingdom would end. Samuel had anointed David the next king in 1 Samuel 16 before David killed Goliath.
Over time, Saul’s animus toward David grew.
Jonathan knew that David was the next king of Israel, and his father hated David, but they became close friends. According to the Bible, 1 Samuel 18:1, the soul was knitted with David’s soul, and Jonathan loved him like his own soul.
1 Samuel 13 says that there were only two swords within the kingdom. Jonathan owned the other, while King Saul had one. Jonathan gave David his sword as David was about to flee Saul.
Although it would seem that Jonathan would be the next Israeli king, he knew God was calling for David. Instead of fighting the man God had anointed, he chose to help him.
Good Samaritan- A Bible Lesson on Love
Luke 10 tells the story of the Good Samaritan, one of Jesus’ parables. A lawyer approached Jesus to show that he was not a bad person. Jesus instructed him to love God and all those around him with all his heart. The lawyer wanted to know what Jesus meant by his neighbors. Jesus responded by telling the story of the Good Samaritan.
A Jewish man was beaten and left half-dead in the street. A priest and a Levite walked by. They were both Jews, but they decided to let the man go as he wasn’t their responsibility. The man was seen by a Samaritan who offered to take him to the hospital, even though the Jews hated the Samaritans. The Samaritan provided the necessary medical care and offered to pay more.
Although the Jews were reluctant to cross the street to help another Jew, a Samaritan saw that all men were his neighbors and showed compassion and love. Jesus told the lawyer, “He too must show love to all those around him.”
Jesus- The Greatest Love Story
Jesus Christ is the greatest love story. God has shown his love to mankind since the beginning of the Bible. Even though God requires death for sin, He promised a redeemer who will come to Earth to save humanity. The Old Testament contains many stories that can be used to illustrate the love of God in Jesus Christ.
The Old Testament sacrifices were meant to point people toward the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus Christ. Man has sinned, but God can make him righteous through a substitutionary sacrifice. Jesus Christ on the cross was this sacrifice.
Jesus’ death on the Cross in the place where sinners are is guaranteed salvation for those who seek forgiveness for their sins. Romans 6:23 explains that this forgiveness is available as a gift.
John 3:16 is the perfect verse to sum up, the greatest story of Bible love:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bible is full of stories about love. Whether it is the love between a man and a woman, the love of a parent for a child, or the love of God for humanity, the Bible shows us that love is the most important thing in life. Love motivates us to do good deeds, be kind to others, and forgive those who have wronged us. Love is what makes us human, and it is what will ultimately make the world a better place.
All articles have been written or reviewed by Pastor Duke Taber. Pastor Duke Taber is an alumnus of Life Pacific University and Multnomah Biblical Seminary. He has been in pastoral ministry since 1988. Today he is the owner and managing editor of 3 successful Christian websites that support missionaries around the world. He is currently starting a brand new church in Mesquite NV called Mesquite Worship Center, a Non-Denominational Spirit Filled Christian church in Mesquite Nevada.
