How to Keep Your Donkey in Line
Have you noticed that there are parts of the Bible that are just plain boring? You get to some passages and it reads like an ancient legal manual on how how to keep your donkey in line. In other places there are endless genealogies. I don't read the lists of names of people in my own family. Why would I want to read lists like this over and over again?
Today I read the construction manual section of scripture. Honestly it's about as exciting as reading blueprints for someone else's house. "You'll need about 100 screws and 24' of duct tape!" I'm not sure how these blueprints draw me closer to Jesus.
And then I notice something I hadn't noticed before. The Ark of the Covenant has two major pieces. There's the Ark, which contained the Law (10 Commandments). And then there's the Mercy Seat. The Mercy Seat is where the sacrifice was made. It's the place where the Spirit of God dwelt. It also happens to serve as the lid for the Ark of the Covenant. That's the part I hadn't considered before.
There it was glaring at me out of one of the boring parts of Scripture. The Mercy Seat was the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, the place where the Law was kept. Let me say that another way. GOD'S MERCY COVERED GOD'S LAW. Isn't that exactly how God works? In His mercy and love for us He's given us grace through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Now we are forgiven of our sin because His MERCY has covered the LAW we have broken, the blood of His Son sealing our salvation just as the blood of the lamb atoned for the sins of Israel.
Today do two things. First, PRAISE GOD. By the blood of Jesus His mercy has covered the law you have broken. Second, take some time read the boring parts of Scripture. Read with a watchful eye. God is in the details. He loves subtlety. He delights in the sublime. For God, even the boring parts have significance for you and for me. Take a look and see what you can find.
Created over 1 year ago
