Tyrese Haliburton

There's nothing wrong with reading your Bible, but how is that being productive? Reading the Bible or any other book is just taking from the world. Being productive is giving something back to the world, by conversing with other people, or cleaning up, or preparing food for people to eat.

producing a closer relationship with God

Indeed, reading from the word of God about The Word of God, allows us to 'hear' from Him anytime we open it up. It is an example of a living book. I can see more deeply into what He is trying to tell us as I grow more and allow His Spirit to guide my steps. We must always remain close to God as that nearness helps to shield us from being lost in this world. Lost to the subtle whisperings of Satan's endless attempts to drag us back into his realm, his world. It allows us to share the Good News of the Gospels without allowing that message to be altered and adulterated.

Mr. Haliburton is a follower of Jesus that happens to play a professional sport. He is blooming where he has been planted. I don't believe that reading the Bible, the very word of God that connects us with the Word of God, should ever be approached as a "punishment". The Creator of the universe and all it contains, left us to go and prepare a place for each of us and left behind 66 love letters to instruct us and prepare us for our lives here and our life to come. If a loved one goes away on an extended trip somewhere leaving us 66 letters and we don't want to read them, how much do we love them?

agreed. though I would argue 73 books (considering Catholicism 🇻🇦✝️)

Numbers is a great book

it feels just like all it is is counting

The book of Numbers is less about counting than it is about the power and authority of God. The 'number' of people moving through a wilderness for 40 years being sustained by the power of God. He miraculously provided for about 2.5 million people, year after year, from food, manna and quail, and water. The enormity of such an undertaking should lead us to understand that God can provide for us if we trust Him completely and follow Him, even as they literally followed Him, though they often grumbled ungratefully.