Hitchhiking with Prophets

Hitchhiking with Prophets is the work of Chad Bird at its best. First, it emphasizes the Christ-centered nature of the Old Testament. Bird repeatedly highlights how every prophecy, mediator, and institution of Israel points ahead to Christ and new covenant. Secondly, the work shows how grace is the central moving force of the biblical narrative. In a word, Bird demonstrates how from age to age the people of God are sustained by Word and sacrament, in spite of being nothing more than a wrecked little flock of sinners. Jack Kilcrease Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology Christ School of Theology Institute of Lutheran Theology In this delightful tour of the Old Testament, Chad Bird brings out the beauty of God's gracious guidance of all of human history that culminates in Jesus Christ. He shows how the major events and characters of the Old Testament reveal humanity's desperate need for, and God's wondrous provision of, redemption of sinners based on divine mercy alone. What a joy to read and what a blessing to the church! Dane Ortlund Author, Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers 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 It is easy to find yourself lost within the pages of the Old Testament. The history, culture, language, geography, politics, and laws are all a bewildering challenge for the modern reader. What one needs is a map to help you navigate the terrain. Hitchhiking with Prophets: A Ride through the Salvation Story of the Old Testament is such a map. In this book Chad Bird will guide you through the Old Testament as he points out the key people and theological ideas in God's unfolding redemptive plan. Chad's understanding of the storyline of Scripture makes this a map worth keeping close as you travel through the pages of the Bible. Hitchhiking with Prophets is an excellent guide for the new or even the not-so-new explorer of the Old Testament. Dr. Chris Hulshof Associate Professor of Bible and Theology Rawlings School of Divinity Liberty University People travel all the time to see amazing sights. Reading a book can be like taking a trip. You should open Hitchhiking with Prophets and take a ride through the salvation story of the Old Testament. With accessible and lively prose, Chad Bird guides you through the wonders and tragedies and highs and sorrows of what's going on in the Old Testament. Along the way, and most importantly, we see the covenant faithfulness and mercy of the one true God who has made the world and is committed to redeeming it through a Promised Son. Mitch Chase Associate Professor of Biblical Studies The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary This book is something better than a hitchhiker's guide to the universe. It's a grace-filled, salt-seasoned celebration of the first part of the best book in the world. Here you'll find the meaning of life, the universe, and everything--if you let Chad Bird pick you up and drive you home to Jesus. James M. Hamilton Jr. Professor of Biblical Theology The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary