Do You Skip "Boring Bits" In The Bible?

Before you conclude that you think some bits in the Bible are boring, let me just say from the on set that I don’t. The Bible is the most incredible book on earth. Every name, every punctuation, every genealogy conveys rich, carefully crafted and verifiable detail that keeps us in awe of the God who wrote it through men He inspired by His Spirit.

Haven said that there are times when you read bits of most Old Testament books and it’s a long list of names, numbers, and genealogies. I am sure there are many who would normally skip these bits. I used to be that person, until I discovered that there are hidden “gems”, details that are crucially important in some of these bits.

How many of you know that Amalek was the grandson of Esau brother of Jacob? (Genesis 36:15). This Amalek became the father of the Amalekites who attacked Israel at Rephidim shortly after they left Egypt (Exodus 17:8-16). Although the Bible did not say why the Amalekites hated the Israelites so much, it is plausible that the family feud that was between Esau and Jacob (who later became Israel), may have influenced the Amalekite’s hatred of the Israelites.

It is through a study of the genealogies that we noticed that Jesus’ family tree included women who did not come from Israel and were sinners. People like Tamar, Rahab, and Ruth. They all had a complicated and ungodly past, but God redeemed them. These genealogies tell us a lot about God’s grace, not for a few but available to all.

Two days ago, as I began to read Genesis again, I was struck by a phrase, which was a refrain after each genealogical account in Genesis 5. The phrase is “and then he died”. The Holy Spirit led me to make a link between Genesis 5 and Genesis 2:17: “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die”. But Satan said, “You will not certainly die.” (Genesis 3:4).

As I thought about it, I realised (as if I didn’t know before) that God’s word is always true. The devil’s words are lies. Though Adam and Eve did not die physically immediately after their disobedience, and they may have even entertained the thought that the devil was right, that they will be like God, the reality is that they died. God is always correct; the devil is NEVER correct. He only deceives with half-truths, that eventually becomes untruths.

From that time onwards, no matter how good men were, no matter how long they lived, no matter how many children they had, their story always ended the same way “and then he died”. The death God told them to avoid by not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the death that Satan told them they will escape became the end of every man.

“Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died” (Genesis 5:5). “Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died” (Genesis 5:8). On and on it goes ending in the same way, until suddenly a break in the pattern “Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years. Enoch walked Faithfully with God: then he was no more, because God took him away”. (Genesis 5:23-24).

The break, I think shows us a glimpse of God’s redemptive plan to save man from death. Enoch did not die because he walked faithfully with God. He is a type of Jesus, who walked faithfully with God and is now ascended into heaven. But Jesus is much more than Enoch. Enoch’s story did not include “and then he died”, but Jesus’ does, not because of His sin, but because of ours. However, as we know Jesus’ story did not end in death. He rose from the dead and went to heaven like Enoch. Jesus is more than Enoch. Enoch saved himself, Jesus died to save all who will believe in Him.

Immediately after Enoch, the pattern continued. For Enoch’s son Methuselah (the oldest man who ever lived - 969years) his story also ended with… you guessed right… “and then he died” (Genesis 5:27). The pattern continued until Noah (Genesis 9:29), and in every sense, it is how each of our stories continued until Jesus came. His death means that though we die here on earth, there is a promise that one day, like Enoch, we too will be with the Lord.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26, ESV).

Don’t skip the bits you think are repetitive and boring, God could speak to you through them. “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT). All scripture, not some, not the New Testament only or the Old Testament only. All of it is good for us, including the bits you think are boring detail.