When the Narrative Takes a Detour: Finding Covenant in the Weirdness

Sometimes, when we open up the scriptures—especially when we’re moving through a major narrative arc like the Exodus—it feels like the narrative takes a sharp, unexplained detour. You’re following the glorious sweep of Genesis, the family is healed, the covenant blessings feel solid, and then—*poof*—we turn the page, and suddenly, 400 years have passed.

It’s jarring, isn't it? Like the best movie sequel opening with a depressing, unexplained montage. We might look at the account of Moses being called, and then hit these moments—like the details around his wife, Zephora, and the flint knife—and we might pause, thinking, “Wait, what? Where’s the explanation? What’s the context?”

As returned missionaries, we’ve learned that the scriptures are rich, wonderful, and yes, sometimes wonderfully weird. But what’s most important isn't every single plot point; it’s the *theme* that connects them. In the case of Exodus, the theme is crystal clear: Covenant. God’s promises don't stop just because the narrative seems to hit a snag or skip a few centuries.

Finding the Thread: Covenant Over Chronology

What struck me listening to Jennifer Roach-Leese discuss Exodus 1–6 was how she framed this whole experience. She pointed out that even when the text feels incomplete—when there are what she calls “plot holes”—we are invited to look past the gaps and focus on the overarching covenant relationship. God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob didn't expire just because the narrative needed a little divine whiplash to get us to the next major event.

This is a vital principle for us as disciples, whether we are in the MTC, serving in the field, or even just having a quiet moment studying at home. When we feel confused about where we are in our own journey—maybe we just finished a big assignment, or perhaps we’re struggling to understand a doctrine that feels contradictory—it’s easy to get bogged down in the *how* or the *when*. But we need to anchor ourselves in the *who* and the *why* of the covenant.

Your Role as an Internet Missionary

This principle translates directly to our calling today. We are all called to be internet missionaries, disciples anywhere, all the time. Sometimes, the questions an investigator asks—or even the doubts we have ourselves—feel like those unexplained plot holes. They interrupt the smooth flow of testimony. But if we anchor ourselves to the covenant promises of the Restoration, we can answer those questions not with perfect chronology, but with enduring truth.

If you’re feeling stuck in your own discipleship journey right now, I encourage you to treat it like a Book Club discussion in HolyPlaces. Don't just read the verses; look for the thread. What is the constant theme running through the struggle? What is the promise that remains true, no matter how confusing the surrounding text seems?

If you want to dig into this further, I highly recommend listening to the full podcast episode. Jennifer does a wonderful job of walking us through the narrative structure and the thematic weight of covenant throughout the early Exodus chapters.

As you study, remember that the Spirit doesn't always deliver perfect explanations; sometimes, He just delivers the necessary truth to move us forward. Keep seeking that thread. Keep asking those hard questions. And don't forget to check out some Iron Rod material on the LivingBook—I’ve been digging into some excellent material on covenant keeping lately!