As you study, you run into them- genealogy lists, temple building instructions, missionary journey travel logs. What can you possibly take away from them if you're not into details? Here are some new perspectives on some of these more tedious (boring) sections of Scripture.

Genealogy and Census records- God uses ordinary people to accomplish His purposes. He knows each one, their history and their background, just as He knows ours, and in grace, He not only includes us in His work, but He records that for all eternity. Your name may not be written in Scripture, but it's recorded in God's ledgers. (1 Corinthians 1:26 …not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called.)

Lists of offerings- In Numbers 7, for example, there is a huge list of the offerings each tribe brought as the tabernacle system was instituted. It's repetitive, and I often wondered why we couldn't have a much shorter chapter- "Each of the leaders brought …" But what's boring for us, God never tires of. He delights in EVERY offering, EVERY act of worship. It never gets old. If He accepts our worship with such intense delight, shouldn't that change how we offer it?

Temple-building instructions- You find these in Exodus for the tabernacle, in 1 Kings for the first temple and in the last chapters of Ezekiel for the millenial temple. Then there's wall-building in Nehemiah. I admit, those last chapters of Ezekiel are tough to wade through. Why does God do that to us? Just to kill our read-thru the Bible plans? No. Part of it goes back to the point I made about offering and God's delight in our worship. However, it also shows God's care and attention to detail. He has a right way that He wants things done. When we undertake something for God, it must be done His way and not ours. However, more significant than this, the temple and tabernacle represented God's physical presence with His people. When we see the cumbersome requirements that must be met before we can approach a holy God, we get a much greater appreciation for the what Christ's redemptive work did for us.

Missionary logs- If you're not into first century Mediterranean geography, wouldn't it be just as easy to say "Paul made a lot of stops." Yes, but we'd miss some insights, such as God has a plan. The places Paul went were not the only cities around, but they were ones God wanted Paul to go to. There are plenty on ministries around doing good work, but we can't work at all of them. God has a place for us, a route He wants us to take. Those other cities, other ministries- He's got somebody lined up for them.

Now when you read Scripture and hit some details that are … well, boring, take a minute before your eyes glaze over, and ask God why He wanted all that stuff in His word. What can you take away from it? You'll find out GOD is in the details.