If you knew the exact hour of your death, what words would you leave for those who you love the most? What actions would you hope to etch onto their memory?

I remember when I first came back to faith about ten years ago. I was finally “in” on Jesus, but I also struggled to feel “in” at church. At first, I struggled to find a sense of belonging; it all felt so foreign to me. I didn’t know how to act or what to say, and I questioned whether I’d ever find my place in the Christian community. In hindsight, I wish someone had suggested I read Numbers, because, at its core, it is a reflection on belonging and faithfulness.

If you’ve ever longed to encounter God or to hear Him speak directly into your life, then Leviticus is a great place to land in your Bible. I know that sounds shocking. Many Christians rarely open these pages, viewing them as a priestly handbook that is now obsolete. An unfortunate perspective that robs us of something incredibly precious, as Leviticus is fundamentally centered around encountering God.

If you’re reading the Torah Portions with me, we’re about halfway through Genesis—which means Exodus is quickly approaching. This post gives a brief overview of Exodus... its purpose, and its structure. It may not be what you think!

I wanted to offer a brief reflection on the biblical idea of Sabbath. In the Old Testament, we often isolate Sabbath to a 24-hour period of physical rest, while spiritual rest is usually associated with the New Testament. In this post I point out a pattern in Genesis that shows that God’s intention for rest has been consistent from the beginning of time.