Description: The Bible is not some dusty textbook, but a veritable circus of humanity, with high-soaring saints, back-talking donkeys, left-handed kingslayers, and all the glory and gore you can fit inside the big top of this biblical tent.
And everywhere in this story is God who, in his wild and passionate love for humanity, is shepherding history toward the birth and ministry of Jesus the Messiah. Do you already have a good grasp of the Old Testament? Wonderful. This book will be an enjoyable review. Do you not know the difference between the Bible and The Hobbit? Also fine. This book will be a helpful map into unknown territory. By the time we're done, you won't know all the ins and outs of the story, but you will have a strong grasp of the major movers and shakers. We will sit shotgun with patriarchs and prophets. Each one will take us a little farther down the Old Testament road until we get to the goal: to Jesus, the one in whom the whole story finds fulfillment and meaning.Brief description: Chad Bird is a Scholar in Residence at 1517. He holds master's degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College. He has served as a pastor, professor, and guest lecturer in Old Testament and Hebrew. Chad has authored several books, speaks regularly at conferences and congregations, and cohosts the popular podcast, "40 Minutes in the Old Testament." Chad and his wife Stacy make their home in Texas, where they have been blessed with four children and three grandchildren.
Review Quotes: "In this journey through some of the major episodes of the Old Testament narrative, Chad Bird is the most reliable and fascinating of guides. With every step, Bird illuminates both the extraordinary and the mundane aspects of the narratives with a keen eye for their Christological significance. Hitchhiking with Prophets is such a pleasure to read! By the end, the reader will not only have a grasp on key people and events, but a sure faith in the God whose certain promises outstrip the sin of his all-too human people." - Todd Brewer, Managing Editor, Mockingbird Ministries