The “Boring” Parts

I watch movies with a nine-year-old. He’s great. He like movies. He likes spending the time with his dad (me). We have fun watching movies together. But he is nine. That means that every scene that is not action packed is boring. The scenes that hold his attention have good guys flying through the air, bad guys running away, chases, fights, speeding cars, and ninja moves. The rest of the movie is just filler. He sort of “suffers through” the plot in order to see the cool stuff. He doesn’t always catch the intricacies of the quieter moments of a movie. He likes to skip the “boring” parts. That’s ok. He will grow. He will come to understand that relationships are important parts of the story. He will learn that boys like girls. There are all sorts of things that will take on a different flavor as he matures. It is fun to watch.

Reading through Exodus reminds me that there is so much more to the story than the action scenes. I love the action in Exodus. The 10 Plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, Moses versus Pharaoh, a burning bush and a fiery mountain, manna, quail, the 10 Commandments, it is all amazing! But then about halfway through chapter 20, things kind of change. Israel settles in at Sinai and Moses goes up the mountain. Then there is an explanation of the law. Laws about altars, slaves, restitution, and social justice. Explanations about building the tabernacle. Descriptions about furniture and how to dress a priest. Not quite the pillar of cloud and fire that we have gotten used to in Exodus. If it were a movie, this might be the “boring” part. I might be tempted to skip it or read through it really fast in order to get back to the action. Don’t! Take some time and see what God is doing with His people in this place.

Law is not about rules and regulations. I know, we have rules and God lays out boundaries. But why? For the same reason that my nine-year-old has rules. To help him grow, to keep him safe, to provide teaching and transformation. That is what God is doing. In Exodus 22-28, our reading this week, we find God giving some rules so that His people can grow and experience the kind of transformation that God wants for His people. Just look with me for a minute.

Exodus 22:16-23:9 is all about social justice. How to treat others. It is a list of short “dos and don’ts.” The overall picture is one of relationships. We are connected to one another when we live as God’s people. How we treat each other is important to God. What we allow in our midst affects how we see things and live with each other, so we need to be aware of what we follow. It is a reminder that community is vital and remembering that God is shaping our community.

Exodus 23:10-19 reads like a list of dates, because it is. It is a list of festivals to be celebrated. God wants His people to see Him in the changing of the seasons, the process of providing crops, and their rescue from sin. He is shaping their eyes and hearts to see Him.

Exodus 23:20-33 is all about promise. God promises that Canaan will be the home of His people. We can see God shaping expectation. God promises to walk with His people today and through the future. God offers hope and comfort and purpose.

Exodus 24 brings us back to the presence of God. He settles on Mount Sinai and calls Moses to Himself. He is giving His people an avenue to speak to Him. He is providing guidance and direction and leadership.

Exodus 25-29 are all about how God shapes worship. A tabernacle so that we know that God lives among His people. Worship reminds us that God is present right now. The table for bread reminds us that we have fellowship with God. A lampstand reminds us that God is our light. An altar reminds us that we need forgiveness and grace, it assures us that God provides what we need.

You see, these are not the “boring” parts. These are the parts that intersect our daily lives. Being a Christian will not always be about action and adventure. It is not about big moments. It is about daily living. It is about seeing God in every moment and walking with Jesus in every situation. Embedding the Bible teaches me to walk with Jesus now. No matter what the now holds.