about the OT

Last year, I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish before I turn 30.

I turn 30 next week.

The list only had two things:

- Realize your dependence on quiet time with your Creator and surrender to it
- Be a parenting TEAM with Steven

Eish, those were lofty goals. That first one has been on my list every single year since 2012. That is unacceptable, people. Unacceptable. 

I began nice and slow - just praying for desire to read my Bible and set time apart for God. And, in typical 9 fashion, I didn't get much past that. But I believe God honored my beginning and has been working in my heart. 

A friend invited me to join a plan to read the Bible in a year last September. I joined and am currently 114 days behind. Our pastor recently preached about the Bible as a means of receiving Grace. That mindset has been helpful, for this week anyway! 

Now, I know that reading the New Testament is refreshing and encouraging and provides insight and inspiration. But the Old Testament is confusing and frustrating and feels like a whole different Being. There is not as much kindness and forgiveness as I'm used to in the NT and there is a lot more of God turning against His own people than I am comfortable with. 

My wise husband, hearing my laments about the OT, suggested I read the Historical Journey Through the Bible section at the front of his Bible. I set aside my shock that such segments are actually beneficial and read it. And holy moly it was so helpful! 

How have I been a Christian my whole life and never known that the twelve tribes of Israel split up during David's grandson's rule?! No wonder it's so confusing because the 10 tribes that left continue to be called "Israel." Their leaders tend to endorse idolatry and their new capital is Samaria (all the stories of conflict with Samaritans make so much sense now). The two tribes that remained loyal - Judah and Benjamin - are called Judah (eventually Jews) and they continue with Davidic kings and worship at the Temple in Jerusalem (they also struggled with idolatry here and there). Did you know this?? OMG. It clears up so many things.

Example: 2 Kings 23:25

"Neither before nor after Josiah was there a king like him who turned to the LORD as he did--with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength, in accordance with all the Law of Moses. Nevertheless, the LORD did not turn away from the heat of his fierce anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger. So the LORD said, "I will remove Judah also from my presence as I removed Israel and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, as this temple, about which I said, 'There shall my Name be.'"