Author: Samantha Barnes

20-something Arkansan navigating through the early years of marriage with Eric, a stud of a husband, and Ridley, a border collie pup.

journey through exodus {1}

In the Bible study I lead, we are going through the book of Exodus together. I chose to study this for multiple reasons:

  1. I think the Old Testament is wonderful, and so many people know so little about it.
  2. I see myself in the Israelite nation. A lot. And as convicting as this is, it also means that I see grace in action and a beautiful picture of the Gospel played out.
  3. I wanted to study the Word, not just read it, and I want to instill in my girls a desire to do that as well.

I am taking the “inductive” approach to studying the Bible: observation, interpretation, application. And, honestly, I rarely follow through with this method. But, as I have started this, I am keeping myself accountable to do it, and it has been really neat over the past few days to see what I have learned and what I have discovered from other sources.

In Exodus 1, I think one of the neatest things is seeing the Lord’s provision, even as the Israelite nation is just forming. This is where it all began: God gave Jacob the name “Israel,” and he had twelve sons. Those twelve sons formed the twelve tribes of Israel, and I knew all of this prior to reading Exodus 1, but it hit me that, before Jacob, the Patriarchs and their families weren’t “Israelites.” NOW is when they first became Israelites.

You can see the Lord’s provision starting in verses six and seven:

Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

Joseph was their “in” into this foreign land. He had earned the Pharaoh’s favor, and thereby secured Goshen for his family. Once Joseph died, though, and his brothers along with him, a new king arose “who did not know Joseph” (8). God gave the Israelites security in their numbers, as the Egyptians began to fear them. And God continued to take care of them; even when the Pharaoh tried to kill off the baby boys, God protected them by allowing the Israelites to multiply even more.

In the midst of adversity, we don’t always see the Lord’s provision. We just see the way things are hard, and we think that God has abandoned us. However, God’s hand of protection was over the Israelites even in the midst of slavery, and His hand of protection is over us, even in the midst of our trials.

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reuniting with a best friend

I used to have a tradition of rereading Anne of Green Gables every fall. About the time school started, before things got too busy, I would keep a copy of my well-loved book with me at all times. I only read through the first three, because it seemed to be a good stopping point before midterms and papers.

Last year, I broke this tradition. Sadly, I broke many traditions during my senior year. Too many other wonderful commitments.

However, I am picking it back up this year. I have read the books so many times, I know all my favorite quotes. I would like to see the movie one day, but I haven’t yet. I love the Anne in my head too much to see a different Anne on screen.

I like to imagine myself in the story. I like to picture the White Way of Delight and the Lake of Shining Waters. I just know I would have bumped heads with the likes of Gilbert Blythe, and I would have held that grudge just the way Anne did. And, although my love story with my Eric is not very similar to that of Gilbert and Anne, I like to think of Eric as my Gilbert. I suppose it is, in a way, since I was very opposed to dating Eric at first, and the man continued to pursue me until I gave in.

At the end of the first book, Anne murmurs to herself, “Dear old world, you are very lovely, and I am glad to be alive in you.” That’s the way I have felt this past week – morning weather in the 50s, daily highs in the low 80s. Cardigans and sweatshirts are starting to come back into the picture, and I had my first cup of hot chocolate earlier this week while I had my quiet time on the porch. I love the beginning of fall, and I love all that this new season is about to hold.

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copy cat

Ephesians 5:1 – “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

I love watching children interact with their parents – especially their dad. There is something about a dad that gives children a freedom to trust him and feel completely secure.

There is also something about a dad that makes kids want to be just like him.

When I was younger, our family took camping trips every summer. We would spend the week at Petit Jean in central Arkansas, sleeping in a tent and riding our bikes around and doing state park activities. Some of my best memories with my family come from those trips.

Whenever we would go on hikes, I would always try to be second in line – right behind my dad, who went first. I used to stare at the ground most of the time, watching where he stepped, so I could step exactly where he did. He seemed to always miss unstable rocks, and he didn’t trip over roots. I imitated everything he did because I knew that his way would be the best since he was my dad.

In the same way, we should have this respect and awe for our Heavenly Father which causes us to do what He does and want to be just like Him. We should have this trust for Him that believes everything He does it right and good, even if there is no previous proof. My mom didn’t tell me to be like my dad. My dad didn’t even ask of  it. I just knew that his way would be best because I knew him and loved him.

If I am going to imitate God, the context of this passage tells me that I should be walking in love – and my example to imitate is “as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” Those are the steps I should be walking in, and who I should be patterning my life after.

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the comeback kid

I miss blogging. I used to do it all the time, but I got out of practice.

First, I was bombarded with senior year of college, including an honors thesis, and a pretty serious boyfriend.

Then, post-graduation, I had to start adjusting to a full-time job, which I really struggled with at first. However, God has been super faithful, and I am content with where I am at and really enjoying what I do.

Then, I got engaged! And started wrapping my brain around the idea of planning a wedding in less than 100 days. (98 days total, to be exact… and 65 left, as of today!)

 

So, I don’t know what to promise out of this blog. I have good intentions of keeping up with this! Planning a wedding and preparing for marriage are some of the biggest changes in my life, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this next stage of life!

As for the blog name, I can make up some great, deep meaning behind it. And maybe I will at some point. Right now, that’s what this will be called just because I like it and I was desperate to make something up that wasn’t just my  name. Especially since I will be getting a new last name in two months!

…and praise the Lord, that new last name is one syllable and easy to spell!

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