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A bike and the Bible – long dark tunnel – part 7

The beginning of the Old Testament can feel like a long dark tunnel. Here are insights to shed some light on the first five books of the Bible.

Tunnel entrance

The moment had arrived. No more stalling. I clumsily made my way to the tunnel entrance. I couldn’t see daylight. This was like the beginning of Genesis, the first book of the Bible. At the risk of being redundant, Genesis means beginning.

Darkness

In the beginning of Genesis the earth is formless and void. Darkness covers all. That’s what this tunnel felt like. Pure black nothingness. I had no idea where I was going, what to expect, what I would find, and all the while I felt like I was going to fall.

Fall

Which is actually a good metaphor for the beginning of Genesis because a fall happens pretty quickly. It’s “the Fall” that gets referenced everywhere. I heard that phrase a lot growing up but wasn’t exactly sure what it meant. What fall? Who fell?

Well, Adam and Eve, the first man and woman. They listened to a voice other than God’s, then questioned what they thought they knew, but more importantly questioned God’s love for them. The resulting consequence was a fall from grace and a boot out of the Garden, not because God didn’t love them, but because He did.

Before God sent them away from the Garden, He clothed them to cover their shame of being exposed.

God wants to cover our shame too.

Grateful for the light

Back in the long dark tunnel I was grateful for the light on my bike though it seemed pretty dim compared to the darkness that surrounded me. I was thankful to have my husband riding in front of me so I had some sense of direction and a little more light to guide my way.

In fact, this tunnel was filled with other cyclists, many who appeared to be experienced with the layout of the tunnel, or at least to me it seemed that way. With all those riders, this really dark tunnel had a constant stream of light flowing through it. This perpetual light may not have been bright but it was fairly steady.

Not alone

We are not alone when we read the Bible. We may know other people who have already read the stories we are just experiencing. I personally appreciate the people who like me are in the process of learning what’s inside.

Connection

The best part of reading the Bible is finding connection to God. When we read the Bible we take a step toward Jesus. The moment we open our Bibles we open our hearts to the possibility of time with Jesus.

Tried to maintain control

It took all my concentration to stay upright and not ride into the gutters that flanked the sides of the tunnel. For some reason the wheels kept leaning toward the gutters. Later I would find out the tunnel was slanted so the water that dripped from the ceiling could run off into those handy water troughs but for me they were reminders of how quickly I could go off course. I gripped the handle bars while I tried to maintain control.

Two-way tunnel

Did I mention this was a two-way tunnel? Yes, not only was I conscious of the riders behind me – who probably wanted to pass – but I had to watch for the ones sailing back up toward the entrance.

Funny, I didn’t grasp what was happening at the time, but some point later in the ride I realized I, too, would have to make the return trip. God was kind to keep me out of the loop at the start of the ride.

Foundation

Reading the Bible has similar characteristics. When I led a group of people through the whole Bible we spent a lot of time in Genesis. So many of the stories in Genesis lay the foundation for other sections of Scripture. If you haven’t read Genesis I encourage you to start there. If you want an overview of what’s in it, here’s a reference point:

Through Genesis – shedding light on the journey

If you read through Genesis you’ll find it flows into Exodus, which also continues with the story concept, though this one focuses primarily on the story of Moses and the Israelites. Here are some tips on how to navigate Exodus:

Find your stride – how to navigate Exodus

After Exodus comes the stumbling block of Leviticus. Most people like to skip this one, but reading with a group kept me accountable and I read through it. Leviticus is worth the trouble if you’re up for it. Here’s some help to survive the ride through it:

How to survive the journey through Leviticus

Much like the tunnel that never seemed to end, Leviticus can feel like a plunge into darkness. But if you even take the time to skim it, you’ll find some content that relates to Jesus in a most profound way.

And if you survive the journey through Leviticus, you have the reward of Numbers which begins with a mind-numbing census. Here are a few highlights of what can be found in Numbers:

How to find knowledge in the narrative of Numbers

Rounding out the first five books of the Bible is Deuteronomy, the book of remembrance. I personally find it ironic because if I make it this far through the Bible, it’s doubtful I remember what I read up to that point. Here are a few highlights to what’s in Deuteronomy:

Finding reminders in the book of Deuteronomy

If you followed me through this list then congratulations, you just made it through the long dark tunnel of the first five books of the Old Testament.

I want to give you permission to forget what you read. The Bible is always available for us to come back to and open it to remember what we’ve seen. But most of all, God is always available to reach out to – that’s all I need to remember.

Catching up on this series?

A bike and the Bible – an adventure – intro – part 1

A bike and the Bible – reservations – part 2

A bike and the Bible – what I thought – part 3

A bike and the Bible – getting started – part 4

A bike and the Bible – finding a Bible – part 5

A bike and the Bible – before the ride – part 6

Like my experience with the bike before the ride, reading the Bible can be messy. We get stuck, lose our place, but also find our way, all while moving closer to Jesus. How to navigate the entry point.

Entry point

We drove to the trailhead, grabbed our gear, in my case, all the snacks I could carry in my pockets, and hiked up to the entry point.

A map

At the info table I requested a map. The gal handed me one and said I’d never use it. She may have been right, but I’ve looked at it countless times since then. A reminder of the path I endured, survived, lived to tell about.

A bookmark

When I started to read the Bible I could never find the table of contents. It must be at least 30 pages in. A bookmark with all of the books of the Bible on it became a handy reference for me, especially the kind that lists the books of the Bible in groupings. Not sure what I mean by groupings? I’ll explain along the ride. In the meantime you can either bookmark the table of contents or follow my example and stumble onto each book of the Bible.

Here’s one way I have a general sense of where I am in the Bible:

Finding my place

Before the ride

My husband took my picture with the bike before the ride started. Before the chaos. Before the first blog post.

Potential hazard

I sat astride my bike. No, actually I didn’t. I stood next to it to have my picture taken. I was well-outfitted. Favorite lightweight teal windbreaker, purple bike helmet, right pant leg in sock. I had ridden bikes enough to know that if you don’t keep your pant leg neatly tucked away from the bike chain, it will find the bike chain. One more potential hazard on this path of peril.

Reading the Bible

Reading the Bible can be messy. We get stuck, lose our place, but also find our way, all while moving closer to Jesus. What do I mean by that? The Bible is God’s Word. When we open our Bible we position ourselves to be aware of God in our own life. That’s the beauty in the mess.

Notice

Now when I look at the photo of the bike I notice the tires covered in dried on mud. And the seat. The back of the seat is streaked with dried on dirt. Did I not notice it before? I don’t think I noticed anything before.

Uncomfortable

My husband sat on his bike. Of course his feet touched the ground. Mine didn’t. And that’s another thing. My bike seat was too far off the ground. I couldn’t touch my feet easily on the ground. But the seat was short in the frame. My legs were perpetually bent, just enough to be a bit uncomfortable after a while.

Sound idea

He stood confidently astride his bike, wearing the backpack full of juice and lunch for the both of us. We may have actually eaten our lunch before we arrived at the trailhead. That was probably the most sound idea of the day.

Company

Although I did not have his confidence, I was grateful for his company. I’m happy to accompany you on this journey into the Bible.

Messy

When I look at the picture now I see all the mud caked on the tires. This ride was going to be messy and I didn’t even have a clue.

Want to see what I’m talking about? A few pictures before the ride:

Tunnel ahead

Question

What were some of your early experiences with reading the Bible?

Want to keep following the journey of a bike and the Bible? Subscribe for free to know when the next stretch of the journey is up.

Catching up?

A bike and the Bible – an adventure – intro – part 1

A bike and the Bible – reservations – part 2

A bike and the Bible – what I thought – part 3

A bike and the Bible – getting started – part 4

A bike and the Bible – finding a Bible – part 5

Like an ill-fitting bike rack, finding a Bible that works for us can be a challenge. Do we try to read it ourselves or let someone else do the heavy lifting? How do we find one we’ll use?

After a week off to share about my book project on Leviticus, this week returns to the bike ride I went on last summer and how it reminded me of the journey through the Bible.

Bike rack didn’t fit

We attempted to put a rented bike rack on our car, but it didn’t fit. After several tries we figured out the bikes couldn’t be secured in place and were at risk of falling off on the way from the bike rental to the trail head.

Finding a Bible

Kind of like finding a Bible that works. I’m not talking about what’s inside it. I mean the size of it. Bulky or compact. Is it portable or once I buy it will I just leave it home – and in the box?

Rent bikes

In the end it was better to rent bikes and have them transported to the trail head by others.

Read from the Bible

Listening to others read from the Bible is fine in the beginning. We can learn what’s in the Word of God at church or from someone’s teaching in a Bible study and avoid fumbling through the pages of Scripture trying to figure out how to read it ourselves.

Our own encounter

Hearing about someone else’s experience with Scripture is a great place to start. Let it be the first step toward having our own encounter with the Bible and what’s inside it.

What to look for when choosing a Bible

Gear

This bike ride was hardcore. The other riders had their gear. I had my purple helmet. And one pant leg rolled up in my sock so it wouldn’t get caught in the bike chain. At least on that point I was prepared though not very fashionable. They were cool. I was scared. I wasn’t here for adventure. I was here for survival.

When we need help

But isn’t that usually when we need help? When we’re in survival mode, unsure of ourselves? Maybe I was where I needed to be.

Question

Have you found a Bible that works for you? What hesitations did you experience trying to read it?

Want to keep following the journey of a bike and the Bible? Subscribe for free to know when the next stretch of the journey is up.

Catching up?

A bike and the Bible – an adventure – intro – part 1

A bike and the Bible – reservations – part 2

A bike and the Bible – what I thought – part 3

A bike and the Bible – getting started – part 4

Like getting started with the Bible, beginning with the bike ride felt awkward.

Getting started

I was getting a little nervous about this bike ride. Sometimes I’d talk myself into it, this will be fun, an adventure. Other times I’d try to talk myself out of it. At one point on the day of the ride we weren’t sure if we’d be able to get tickets. Can I say I wasn’t disappointed?

The drive up to the lodge where we registered for the ride was pretty. A steady climb. Trees in view. This ride is downhill, right? I didn’t sign up for a fitness class. I wanted a relaxing excursion.

Like getting started with the Bible. There’s a big difference between reading a few short verses and studying it.

Gearing up

We drove up to the appropriately named Lookout Pass to sign up, rent bikes, and hit the trail. This place just oozed adventure. During the winter it’s a ski and recreation area for you know, people who like adventure. I liked lunch. I was not ready for adventure.

Hesitant, unsure, ill-equipped, and feeling foolish, I didn’t have any idea what I was doing. Who did I think I was, geared up like I knew how to mountain bike?

I have friends who do this sort of thing all the time. This was not my thing.

Getting acquainted with the Bible

I remember when I first started looking in my Bible and not just looking at it. The lists of unfamiliar words and names in the table of contents made it hard to find my place.

When you’ve been reading the Bible for a while, or when you’ve memorized the order of the books of the Bible from a children’s song or two you have no issues with finding the section you want.

But when you’re new to the Bible it feels like all kinds of awkward.

Guess what? Everybody has to look up or fumble around when they are first getting acquainted with the Bible. Comfort comes with familiarity. If you aren’t sure where a book of the Bible is simply open your Bible and look around. The more you look, the more you’ll start to remember.

How I learned the books of the Bible:

Two things that kept me from reading the Bible – and what changed my tune

Question

How do you find your way around the Bible? Have you ever felt ill-equipped to start a journey?

Want to keep following the journey of a bike and the Bible? Subscribe for free to know when the next stretch of the journey is up.

Catching up?

A bike and the Bible – an adventure – intro – part 1

A bike and the Bible – reservations – part 2

A bike and the Bible – what I thought – part 3

What I thought this bike ride would be like and what I started to learn about it, differed somewhat. In some ways it reminded me of my initial approach to the Bible.

What I envisioned

Prior to the ride I thought the journey would be pleasant, that I would be fine. I’d seen the downhill path along the side of the road. How hard could it be? It was downhill. The path looked pleasant. I envisioned a boardwalk, promenade, leisurely stroll. You know, those bikes in the movies with a basket full of flowers on the front. Think leisure. Okay, so maybe I was also thinking lazy, effortless, gentle, meandering in a noncommittal way.

A verse or phrase

I like words. When it came to the Bible, I liked Scripture in short batches. A verse or phrase on a journal page or in a picture frame. The 23^rd Psalm on a bookmark. I had time to read that. Not whole chapters or books of the Bible.

In church I heard selections from Scripture. At some point during the worship service a Scripture passage or two would be read. I always experienced Scripture in small segments, not in lengthy installments.

And because I tended to experience information from the Bible in limited quantities, I didn’t try to grasp the bigger picture or even anything beyond a few phrases at a time.

What I thought

My introduction to the bike ride was through posters and brochures. Somehow the images didn’t register. I had kept my own concept in my head of what I thought it was going to be like.

It wasn’t that. Whatever I thought it would be like, it wasn’t. Whatever I had imagined would be my experience. It wasn’t.

Something significant

Not long before the ride I started to read some information about the bike ride, to be better informed. I saw all these comments about a tunnel. By the tone and the telling it seemed to be something significant. I’ve been through a lot of tunnels, in a car. I think I’d ridden through one on a bike. (I’m just now remembering I’ve been through many really long tunnels on a train. I never made that connection until now.)

But back to my experience and recollection prior to the ride. Tunnels were no big deal. You go in, you come out. They’re dark inside but after a short curve you can see the daylight at the other end. End of story. Tunnels were no problem. Why did this one sound like it was going to be a problem?

Question

What were some of your initial experiences with Scripture or what unexpected journey have you faced?

Want to keep following the journey of a bike and the Bible? Subscribe for free to know when the next stretch of the journey is up.

Catching up?

A bike and the Bible – an adventure – intro – part 1

A bike and the Bible – reservations – part 2