Dear OBC Family,For the last few Sundays we have considered the birth of Moab and Ben-ammi, Isaac, and the sons of Nahor. In short, we’ve been watching the slow moving train of history some 1800 years before Christ. But this week we will hit warp speed to arrive at the birth of Christ.In Matthew 1, the tax collector turned evangelist begins with a list of 41–42 names depending on how you count. An...

Take a moment to read Genesis 22:20–24.Now after these things it was told to Abraham, “Behold, Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor: 21 Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.” 23 (Bethuel fathered Rebekah.) These eight Milcah bore to Nahor, Abraham’s brother. 24 Moreover, his concubine, whose name was Reumah, bo...

Dear OBC Family,If you want to play a fun game — is game the right word? — with your children or friends, take time to read Genesis 22:1–19 verse by verse. In each verse, ask yourself a question: What does this passage say about Christ in type or shadow?In the Bible, types are historical persons, places, events, or institutions that point forward to Jesus Christ as the goal of God’s plan of salvat...

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse,  and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”Genesis 12:3In Genesis 21, we have three stories in one. Verses 1–7 tell the long-awaited birth story of Isaac, then verses 8–21 recount how Ishmael, the son of an Egyptian slave, is cast out because he laughed at Isaac, while verses 22–34 finish the chapter by desc...