For me, reading the Bible, I don't get the impression that they were stories. Rather, I get the impression that they are real accounts, with real people, and history evidently testifies to that fact.
For one thing, archaeological findings support the accounts, and people - So far 51. Even if one cuts that number down, a score (20) is still a good support. For another thing, living in the flesh, are Jewish people, who trace their history back to Abraham. The Passover is just one event kept on the same date mentioned in the Bible. The calendar is not very different, and we can find much more about the culture that existed back then. The cultural dress for example... and we can go on.
To me, Hebrews 4:12 highlights a few significant points, namely - 1) the word of God, is
alive. 2) It is
able to discern thought and intentions, of the heart.
Only a living intelligence is able to discern a person's thoughts, and intentions, so why did someone write this? Doesn't it sound like madness?
When I consider Jesus' works, and what I myself discovered from the Bible, with help of course from like-minded people, those words make a lot of sense. To me, those words are profound, and we can say somewhat esoteric... in a good way, of course.
Jesus' words...
Matthew 13
11 ...“
To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the Kingdom of the heavens, but to them it is not granted. 12 For
whoever has, more will be given him, and he will be made to abound; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 That is why I speak to them by the use of illustrations; for looking, they look in vain, and hearing, they hear in vain, nor do they get the sense of it. 14 And
the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled in their case. It says: ‘You will indeed hear but by no means get the sense of it, and you will indeed look but by no means see. 15 For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes, so that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back and I heal them.’
16 “However, happy are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.
The heart, is what the Bible says God sees.
The scripture says, the heart of many, is practically dead - unreceptive. Their eyes and ears pasted shut.
The word of God is alive, and ...is sharper than
any two edged sword, and can know the thoughts and intentions, of
our heart.
Could it be, that the reason people don't accept the Bible as the word of God - not myths or stories, is because it has the spirit of God, making it alive and aware of the unresponsive, and allowing them to remain blind to the truth therein?
From what Jesus said, it's a good question to take to heart, imo.
That is why I speak to them by the use of illustrations; for looking, they look in vain, and hearing, they hear in vain, nor do they get the sense of it.
...the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes, so that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back and I heal them.’
However, happy are your eyes because they see and your ears because they hear.