When I was a youth a youth leader taught me to approach the Bible with a truthful and humble heart. We are often tempted to explain what we learned from the Bible perhaps to impress others with our new-found knowledge. This is helpful if you are teaching but not fruitful if you are having your quiet time.

We can benefit from the Bible in many ways. Reading, memorizing, and pondering are ways we can let the word "sink" into our inner being. Today I want to share with you a few ways you can benefit from the Bible. We will use a familiar passage as an example - Genesis 22:1-19.

1. The first way to benefit from the Bible is to learn the meaning of new words. Here verse 14 says - And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. Jehovahjireh is a Hebrew word that is translated into English - The LORD will provide. Noticed that Abraham named a place in Moriah with the name of the LORD. In Abraham's time, this happened when significant events happened and the place is often named after the event. (eg. Exodus 17:5). From the name, we can learn that God can be trusted as a LORD who will provide.
2. The second way is a familiar way to benefit from the Bible. To learn from a verse in the Bible. In the same passage, Isaac asked his father Abraham about the missing lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham replied in verse 8 that God will provide himself a lamb. This verse is often used as a mere statement of faith Abraham uttered but there is more going on here. God is often viewed as a God who demands and Abraham's reply was contrary to that view of God. Abraham experienced God providing him a son when he was way past the age of fertility and now he is able to trust God to provide. This was a result of his walk with God. Something we often overlook. A word of caution when you use a verse out of the passage to form your belief. We can often use verses out of context. In this case, if we claim verse 17 as a promise that we will have many descendants will be foolishness. In this context, the promise was given specifically to Abraham. We can, however, trust the principle that God will bless those who walk with Him.
3. Another way to benefit from the Bible is to learn from the story as a whole. This may not apply to every passage of the Bible as many parts of the Bible are not narrative. From the passage we are discussing, we can ask questions about the story and learn from the story. Abraham did not seem surprised when asked to offer his only son Isaac as an offering. In our time we will be horrendously surprised when we are asked to perform something like this, we may even freak out. But Abraham remains composed when he was asked to sacrifice his son. Could it be that child sacrifice was a common and acceptable practice in Abraham's time? It is likely so. That may be why later in other passages there are instructions not to let your child pass through the fire (Leviticus 18:21). We can learn about Abraham, we can learn about Isaac and we can about God in this story. We then ponder how do these lessons impact us today. How does the story change our responsibility towards our God?
4. Lastly, we can benefit from the Bible by looking at the big picture. The story of Abraham's offering in Moriah mirrored the promise of the Messiah. One day God will provide a sacrifice once and for all for the sins of the world. This promise goes all the way back in Genesis 3. Although this story can be read stand-alone, it fits into the promise of the past and also into a fulfillment of the promises in the future (Romans 6:9-11). The sacrifice will not come from man but from God. This Messiah is Christ Jesus our Lord - God's provision for the atonement of sins for the world. The Good News we are sharing with the world.

These are by no means the full extent of how we can benefit from the Bible. Coupled with the right attitude and honesty, we can let the Bible impact us deeper.

May we enjoy our spiritual journey with God as we dig deeper into the Bible. May your studies be fruitful each time as you open the Bible. Shalom.