Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

So anyways, I'm doing a reading plan called "Bible in 90 days". It's basically the P90x of reading plans. It's quite intense in the way of sheer amount of reading. Reading on average about 10 chapters a day. Something that's really struck me is how my own view of the Old Testament has changed since I started. I used to not like reading it. I just didn't find it applicable. It was more of a "So God created earth, then they ate fruit and everything turned horrible...Ok, I get that. Then he had some special people do special things, and they had these 10 laws. Ok, check. And then they killed some bad people and God was cool with that. And then they had kingdoms, then they screwed up, now their captured, now there back, oh hey! Time for the New Testament!" It was more like reading a history assignment. But my understanding of it has grow so much more as I study it (surprising, I know), and the walk-through with the Rock is helping as well. The wonder of the Cross is so much more so now that I can see what it used to be like. I now understand why it was such a revolutionary thing. No longer do we have to sacrifice to atone any iota of cleanliness. We are the New Israelits, set apart by God. We don't have to use an intermediary to seek counsel with God; we can approach him confidently now that we are pure in his sight. My understanding of Grace has been magnified so much more so now that I've come to these realizations. And some things have really stood out too. In Genesis, Abraham is able to recognize God (what he recognizes is up for debate whether it's a physical aspect, or something much more) when he/his messengers appear before him in Genesis 16. We're only told of a few people in the Bible that had that kind of relationship with God, where they actually interact with him personally. Some of them were Moses, the prophets (the prosecuting attorneys of the time), and Abraham. Abraham's relationship was so radical. I can't think of anyone else off the top of my head that met with God like that before Abraham. And it's quite encouraging too, that even when they were living under the old law, they could have such an intimate connection. Now that we have been redeemed eternally, no longer under the yoke of the past Covenant, how much more so can our relationship with God be? We don't have to purify ourselves to meet with him, because Christ resides in us! I wish more than anything to have that Abraham-God relationship, and am seeking it earnestly. I hope this is an encouragement to my fellow believers who will read this, and not just some ramblings.
I hope this finds you in good health and whatnot.

Your Brotha in Christ,

Chris