Two years ago, when we were reading the New Testament at the leisurely pace of five chapters/week, June suggested we develop similar reading plans for the rest of the Bible. This year, we’re going through the Pentateuch, Genesis – Deuteronomy, with room for three of the gospels. We opened with the foundational section of Genesis 1 – Exodus 20 before taking a break to read Matthew. Now we’re back into Exodus, and as I wrote Sunday, it was an abrupt transition!

When June started reading Exodus 21, she asked me, “Why should we read this?” It’s an honest question, that may take a few days to answer. But first, a reminder. There’s no question that some parts of the Bible appear more exciting and relevant than others. If you’re reading devotionally, you can read as little as a sentence or two of one of the epistles and find something applicable. In the Gospels, we can hear Jesus’ teaching or watch what he’s doing and, again, find something inspiring or applicable. But the Old Testament is different. We might have to read an entire chapter that tells a story before we can draw out some principles. In parts of Exodus and Leviticus there are laws that just aren’t applicable today. On those days, I’ve suggested reading a story in the Gospel of Mark (they’re short) or a Psalm.

But why try to read it at all? Here are a few reasons:

• “All scripture” is inspired and profitable according to 2 Timothy 3.16. And when Paul wrote that to Timothy, the Old Testament was all they had.
• Paul told the Ephesian elders that he had taught them “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20.27).
• Some of the New Testament doesn’t make sense without it. Try this one:

The next day [John the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1.29, ESV)

If you hadn’t read, or been taught, the sacrificial system we’re getting ready to read about in Exodus and Leviticus, this verse would make no sense, nor would Jesus’ death on the cross:

For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. (1 Corinthians 5.7, ESV)

And Paul wrote that to the church in Corinth, to people who had come from a pagan background. Apparently, Paul had included the Old Testament in his teaching – not just the resurrection, even though that’s certainly where he started.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15.3 – 4, ESV)

Note that even when he reminded them that he started by telling them about the death and resurrection of Jesus, it was “according to the Scriptures” – the Old Testament!

That’s enough to get us started. More tomorrow.