February — A Covenant Relationship
See A Plan for Bible Reading for the year-long schedule of reading with downloadables.
This month reveals that covenant is not merely about rescue or rules, but about relationship — a relationship marked by God’s faithfulness, human weakness, and the persistent need for grace. God commits Himself fully to His people, even as they struggle to live faithfully in return.
Week 1 — Deliverance and Covenant
In many ways, this week’s reading resembles a familiar story: a powerful rescuer defeats the enemy, claims His bride, and brings her into freedom. But unlike a fairy tale, this story is grounded in history, real suffering, and binding promises.
At the heart of the Exodus story is covenant. The identity of the Deliverer and the vows He makes with His people reveal what kind of relationship God intends to establish. Read Exodus 20:1–17 with this in mind.
Reflection questions:
- How does this story resemble a rescue-and-marriage narrative, and where does the comparison break down?
- Why does God begin the covenant by reminding Israel of who He is and what He has already done?
- How does this story feel more “real” than a fairy tale, and why does that matter for understanding God’s Big Story?
- What do the covenant commands reveal about God’s character and His design for human flourishing?
Total reading: 21 chapters — Exodus 4–24
Week 2 — The Place and Manner of Worship
With the covenant established, attention turns to how God will dwell among His people. The detailed instructions for the tabernacle raise important questions: Where will God live? How will His people approach Him? And what does faithful worship look like in everyday life? These chapters describe not only a structure, but a way of life shaped by God’s holiness and grace.
Reflection questions:
- What do the design and details of the tabernacle teach us about God’s desire to be near His people?
- How do worship, obedience, and God’s provision fit together in this covenant relationship?
- Even at this early stage, what relational problems or tensions can you see emerging?
- Are there hints in these chapters of how God intends to address future failures within the covenant?
Total reading: 22 chapters — Exodus 25–41; Leviticus 1–5
Week 3 — A Holy God and His People
This week focuses on holiness and mediation. God appoints the Levitical priests to care for the worship system, teach the covenant, and intercede on behalf of the people. Their role highlights both God’s holiness and the people’s need for guidance and restoration in this ongoing relationship.
Reflection questions:
- Why was a priesthood necessary for maintaining the covenant relationship?
- What problems did this system help address, and which problems remained unresolved?
- How did sacrifices, rituals, and laws teach Israel about sin, forgiveness, and nearness to God?
- Why couldn’t this system fully solve the deeper issue of the human heart?
- How does this system and priesthood prepare the way for later developments in God’s redemptive plan?
Total reading: 22 chapters — Leviticus 6–27
Week 4 — Rebellion and Wilderness Wanderings
The covenant relationship now comes under serious strain. Despite God’s presence, provision, and guidance, Israel repeatedly resists trust and obedience.
Reflection questions:
- What specific forms of rebellion do you see in these chapters, and how do they arise? How do these failures echo patterns already seen in Genesis?
- Why do these stories confirm the ongoing need for both God’s judgment and God’s grace?
- What do Israel’s struggles reveal about the challenges of living in a covenant relationship with a holy God?
- How do these wilderness stories expose the limits of law alone and point forward to God’s greater redemptive work?
Extra credit: Numbers 11 tells a unique account of the Spirit of God resting on 70 elders. Why does this happen and how does it relate to Joel’s prophesy (Joel 2:28-29) and the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2?
Total reading: 21 chapters — Numbers 1–21