"A Pilgrimage Through The Pentateuch"

Have you made any resolutions for 2008? Why not? Have you made the resolution not to make any resolutions? I know, I know...you made them before and you broke them before midnight on January 2, right? How about joining me in a determined, concerted effort to get everyone of us to read through the Old Testament in 2008. I like to call this "Walking Through The Word." I have a plan for us all as we tackle the first section which I am referring to as "A Pilgrimage Through the Pentateuch."

"What is the Pentateuch?" you ask. It is the first five books of the Old Testament--Genesis (50 chapters), Exodus (40), Leviticus (27), Numbers (36) and Deuteronomy (34). That section of Scripture was called "the Torah" (Hebrew - "The Law") by the Jews, (see Nehemiah 8). The name Pentateuch comes from the word Greek word "teuchos" which means a "sheaf" (usually leather) such as one would carry arrows in. "Penta" is a prefix meaning "five" and pertained to the five "scrolls" (Hebrew - megilloth) mentioned above. The five scrolls (books) were placed in the sheaf or drum to keep them together. When a scroll was selected to be read publicly (see Luke 4:16-17), the reader would remove it and perform the reading.  At the close,  the scroll would be returned to the teuchos. The two parts of the word were joined to coin the term, "Pentateuch." Today those scrolls are in codex form (the type of books we customarily use today). 

The Pentateuch consists of 187 chapters and 5,826 verses. The originals (Manuscripts) did not have chapters and verses. This was a humanly-contrived device to be able to locate passages ("book, chapter and verse"). I am proposing that we all read through the Pentateuch in FORTY days. We will begin  on January 14 and end on February 22, 2008. We are enclosing a read-list to keep us all on schedule. According to this schedule, we will read approximately 5 chapters a day or about 150 verses. That comes to just less than five pages a day and takes less than 30 minutes a day when reading it out aloud to oneself. Of course, it might be more fun to have someone read with you. 

One suggestion is to get a note-book and a pen to jot down insights, information and questions you might entertain. That makes for lively discussion with fellow-readers later around the table (at Culvers?). This is the real place to do your "text messaging"-- ha! Also, using a hi-liter pen to mark verses you find especially meaningful. Many verses are so faith-building. God's dealing with man in the human condition is always fantastic. Also, note your own thoughts in the margin next to an appealing expression or mind-blowing sentence in the text. Later when you peruse the text again, you will be able to relive the joy of that moment. You are now set, not only to let God communicate with you, but also to have fun as you marvel at the greatness of our God. You are now entering a life-changing, spiritually-enriching, incomparable experience. You will never regret this as it will become part of your treasured memories. You will want to imitate it many times in the future.

Being a Christian is exciting. Being a child of God is incredible. Being a child of the King provides benefits beyond human comprehension. Take the time and even take your time. You will be so glad that you did. 

Love you all,