Your experience with Bible reading plans is a common struggle for many believers. The desire to read through the Bible in a year is a noble goal, but often the complexities of life and the perceived difficulty of certain scriptures, especially those found in the Pentateuch, can derail even the most disciplined reader. Your journey, however, led you to an important realization: reading the Bible is not just about completing a task; it’s about understanding and connecting with God’s Word in a meaningful way.
The Pentateuch, often seen as a collection of archaic laws and genealogies, can indeed be a challenge to modern readers. But as you discovered, when approached with the understanding that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), even these difficult passages begin to reveal their value.
The struggle often lies in not recognizing the relevance of these ancient texts to our lives today, leading to a superficial reading that misses the depth and richness of God’s Word.
Your realization that you had been reading but not studying the Bible was a turning point. Simply reading the text, especially through a Bible app or as part of a reading plan, can lead to a lack of retention and understanding. It’s easy to gloss over the details, like the number of animals Noah took on the ark, which can cause us to miss the nuances and lessons embedded in the scriptures. This is particularly true for the detailed and, at times, seemingly repetitive sections of the Pentateuch. However, as you began to study these scriptures, rather than merely reading them, their significance became clear.
Leviticus, for example, is often regarded as one of the most difficult books of the Bible to get through, with its extensive lists of laws and regulations. But as you observed, this book is crucial in teaching us about the holiness of God. In a world that often blurs the lines between holy and profane, understanding the holiness of God is more important than ever. Leviticus reveals the depth of our unholiness and the lengths to which God went to make a way for us to be in His presence. This understanding transforms the way we see God’s commands—not as burdensome rules, but as expressions of His holy character and His desire for us to live in a way that reflects His holiness.
The Beauty of Scripture Seen Through Christ
The second major shift in your understanding came when you began to see the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus. The realization that all of Scripture, including the challenging parts of the Old Testament, points to Christ is transformative. It changes the way we approach the text. No longer are we simply reading about ancient history or obscure laws; we are uncovering the story of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ.
Take, for instance, the story of David and Goliath. Many sermons and teachings have encouraged us to see ourselves as David, facing the giants in our lives with faith and courage. While there is merit in this interpretation, it falls short of the deeper truth that the story ultimately points to Jesus. David’s victory over Goliath is a foreshadowing of Christ’s victory over sin and death. The five stones that David carried can be seen as symbolic of the five wounds of Christ—His hands, feet, and side—by which He defeated the ultimate Goliath: sin.
Similarly, the intricate details of the Ark of the Covenant in Exodus serve as an allegory for Christ. The Ark, with its gold covering and cherubim, was the dwelling place of God’s presence. The blood sprinkled on the mercy seat by the high priest on the Day of Atonement was a temporary covering for the sins of Israel. This act was a foreshadowing of the final atonement made by Christ.
When Mary Magdalene entered the empty tomb and saw two angels, one at the head and one at the foot of where Jesus’ body had lain, she witnessed the fulfillment of what the Ark symbolized.
The blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, was the ultimate and final sacrifice, bridging the gap between God and humanity once and for all.
By taking the time to study these connections, you moved beyond a surface-level reading of Scripture and began to see the beauty and depth of God’s Word. The Old Testament is not just a collection of ancient stories and laws; it is the foundation of the Gospel, rich with meaning and pointing us to Jesus at every turn.
Your experience serves as an encouragement to all of us to slow down and study the Scriptures, especially the parts that seem difficult or irrelevant. When we approach the Bible with a heart to understand and see Christ in all of it, we discover that even the most challenging passages are filled with life-giving truth that deepens our faith and equips us for every good work.
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