Posts that reference the book of Genesis

Altars Along the Way

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Genesis 12:7

Strange land.
Unfamiliar terrain.
Canaanites all around.
Yet here, God appears.

And what does Abraham do?
He builds an altar.
Not a fortress for protection.
Not a house for comfort.
An altar.

From Shechem to Bethel,
His journey marked not by monuments to self,
But by stone reminders of divine encounters.

These weren’t grand temples or cathedrals.
Simple stones stacked in reverence,
Visible markers saying:
“God met me here.”

What if we built altars
Along our own journeys?
Not physical stones perhaps,
But moments of sacred pause.

Places where we stop,
Remember,
Worship,
And acknowledge:
“God met me here.”

Today
ordinary as it seems
Could be holy ground for an altar moment.
What stones of remembrance will you stack today?

The Call to Go

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’ – Genesis 12:1

Leave what you know.
Leave who you know.
Leave the familiar comfort
Of everything you’ve built.

And go.
Not to a mapped destination,
Not with a detailed plan,
But simply to “the land I will show you.”

Abraham packed his possessions,
Gathered his household,
And stepped into the unknown
All on the strength of a promise.

No GPS coordinates.
No five-star reviews.
No guarantees except God’s word: “I will show you.”

How many blessings remain unclaimed
Because we refuse to leave?
How many promises unfulfilled
Because we demand to see the whole path?

Faith isn’t knowing every turn ahead.
Faith is taking the next step
When God says, “Go.”

Your Monday may feel like uncharted territory.
But the God who guided Abraham
Is showing you the way too.

STT: People as Types

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

Study tip Tuesday People as Types title graphic

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.” – Romans 15:4a

This week, let’s focus on how specific people in the Old Testament serve as “types” of Christ, revealing different aspects of His character and work through their lives and experiences.

What Makes Someone a Type of Christ?

When we identify a person as a type of Christ, we’re not suggesting they were sinless or divine. Rather, certain aspects of their lives and roles prefigured Jesus in meaningful ways. These parallels were divinely orchestrated to prepare God’s people to recognize the Messiah when He came.

Five Significant People as Types of Christ

1. Adam – The Representative Head

Paul explicitly identifies Adam as a type of Christ in Romans 5:14, calling him “a type of the one who was to come.”

Parallels with Christ:

Both are heads of humanity (Adam of the first creation, Christ of the new)
Both’s actions affected all their descendants
Both underwent a period of testing

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). Where Adam brought death through disobedience, Christ brings life through obedience.

2. Joseph – The Rejected Savior

Though not explicitly identified as a type in the New Testament, Joseph’s life contains remarkable parallels to Christ.

Parallels with Christ:

Beloved by his father (Genesis 37:3)
Rejected and betrayed by his brothers
Sold for silver (Genesis 37:28)
Unjustly condemned yet innocent
Exalted to rule after suffering
Provided salvation during crisis
Forgave those who wronged him

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Joseph saved his family from physical famine; Christ saves us from spiritual death.

3. Moses – The Deliverer and Mediator

Moses himself prophesied about Christ: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me” (Deuteronomy 18:15).

Parallels with Christ:

Rescued from death as an infant
Called by God to deliver His people from bondage
Performed signs and wonders
Mediated between God and the people
Interceded for the people when they sinned
Established God’s covenant

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Moses delivered from physical slavery; Christ delivers from sin’s bondage.

4. David – The Shepherd King

David is frequently connected to the Messiah, who is often called “Son of David” in the New Testament.

Parallels with Christ:

Born in Bethlehem
Worked as a shepherd before becoming king
Defeated God’s enemies (Goliath/Satan)
Established a kingdom promised to endure
Composed songs of worship

The Greater Reality in Christ:
“He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:33). David’s earthly kingdom eventually fell; Christ’s kingdom is eternal.

5. Jonah – The “Resurrected” Prophet

Jesus Himself identified Jonah as a type: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40).

Parallels with Christ:

“Buried” for three days
“Resurrected” to new life
Brought a message of repentance
His experience led to the salvation of Gentiles

The Greater Reality in Christ:
Jonah’s “resurrection” saved one city temporarily; Christ’s resurrection offers salvation to all people eternally.

Study Application

When studying an Old Testament figure:

Look for explicit New Testament connections – Does Jesus or any NT writer connect this person to Christ?
Note significant parallels – Are there meaningful similarities in their experiences, roles, or character?
Recognize how Christ is greater – How does Jesus fulfill and exceed what this person represented?
Avoid forced connections – Not every detail needs to be typological; focus on significant patterns.

These Old Testament lives weren’t just historical figures but divinely orchestrated “living prophecies” pointing to Christ. By studying them, we gain a richer understanding of Jesus and God’s consistent redemptive plan.

For reflection: Which Old Testament figure helps you understand an aspect of Christ’s character or work more clearly? How does seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of these “types” deepen your appreciation of God’s redemptive plan?

In the Beginning

By Paula Wiseman Leave a Comment

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1

First words.
First actions.
First light breaking through darkness.
Before anything else existed, God was already there.

The canvas blank,
The void empty,
Until His voice echoed across nothingness
And something answered back.

We often rush past these opening words,
Eager to get to our part of the story.
But pause here with me.
Feel the weight of this moment.

Everything we know,
Everything we see,
Everything we are,
Began with God’s creative word.

And in your life today
Your blank pages,
Your empty spaces,
Your waiting darkness
God is still creating.

He who spoke galaxies into existence
Is speaking purpose into your Monday,
Your week, your year.

Your story doesn’t begin with you.
It begins with Him.

STT: Valid Types

By Paula Wiseman

Study Tip Tuesday Valid Types title graphic

Not everything in the Old Testament is a type of Christ. Use these guidelines to discern valid, legitimate connections:

Look for New Testament confirmation – The surest types are those explicitly identified in the New Testament
Seek significant correspondence – Valid types share meaningful parallels, not superficial similarities
Recognize escalation – The fulfillment in Christ always exceeds the type (greater, not just similar)
Maintain textual context – The original meaning remains valid alongside typological significance

Simple Study Method

Try this approach with any Old Testament passage:

Read the passage in context – Understand its original meaning first
Look for New Testament references – Does any NT passage connect this to Christ?
Note significant patterns – Are there themes of redemption, sacrifice, mediation, or kingship?
Ask revealing questions:

How might this point to Christ’s person or work?
What greater reality might this foreshadow?
How does Christ fulfill or transform this element?

Example: Joseph as a Type of Christ

Joseph’s story contains numerous parallels to Christ:

Beloved by his father (Genesis 37:3)
Rejected by his brothers (Genesis 37:4)
Sold for silver (Genesis 37:28)
Unjustly condemned (Genesis 39:20)
Exalted to rule (Genesis 41:40-41)
Provided salvation during famine (Genesis 42-45)
Used evil for good (Genesis 50:20)

While the Bible doesn’t explicitly identify Joseph as a type of Christ, the parallels are significant enough to see God’s foreshadowing work.

Why This Matters

Recognizing valid types and shadows helps you:

See the unity of Scripture’s redemptive story
Appreciate God’s intricate planning across history
Understand Christ more fully through these divine illustrations
Read the Old Testament with fresh eyes of faith

These Old Testament stories are about real men and women, but just beneath the surface – waiting to be discovered – are lessons about Jesus Christ.

Next time you read an Old Testament passage, ask: “How might this point to Christ?” You might be surprised at the connections you discover when you look with eyes of faith.

STT: Sacrifices: Connection

By Paula Wiseman

In our previous study tips, we’ve explored how to analyze individual sacrifices, compare different types of sacrifices, and trace sacrificial themes through Scripture. Today, we’ll examine how to connect Old Testament sacrificial concepts specifically to Christ’s redemptive work, seeing how He fulfills and transforms these ancient practices.

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins… we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” – Hebrews 10:4, 10

The New Testament’s Interpretive Key

The New Testament provides the authoritative interpretation of Old Testament sacrifices, revealing that they were always pointing toward Christ. As Jesus himself said, “Everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).

Five Connections Between Old Testament Sacrifices and Christ

When studying Old Testament sacrifices, look for these five specific connections to Christ’s work:

1. Substitution: The One for the Many

Old Testament Pattern:

The offerer laid hands on the animal’s head, symbolically transferring guilt (Leviticus 1:4)
The animal died in place of the sinner
The innocent bore the punishment deserved by the guilty

Fulfillment in Christ:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24)
“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6)

Study Question: How does Isaiah 53:4-6 connect this substitutionary concept to the coming Messiah?

2. Blood Atonement: Life Given for Life

Old Testament Pattern:

“The life of the flesh is in the blood… it is the blood that makes atonement by the life” (Leviticus 17:11)
Blood was applied to the altar, sprinkled before the veil, or placed on the mercy seat
Blood represented life given to cover sin

Fulfillment in Christ:

“In him we have redemption through his blood” (Ephesians 1:7)
“The blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7)
“Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Hebrews 9:22)

Study Question: How does Hebrews 9:11-14 contrast the effectiveness of animal blood with Christ’s blood?

3. Perfect Offering: Without Blemish

Old Testament Pattern:

Sacrificial animals had to be “without blemish” (Leviticus 1:3, 3:1, 4:3)
Any physical defect disqualified an animal for sacrifice
This requirement emphasized the need for perfection in approaching God

Fulfillment in Christ:

Christ was “a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:19)
He was “holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners” (Hebrews 7:26)
He “offered himself without blemish to God” (Hebrews 9:14)

Study Question: How does the requirement for unblemished sacrifices illuminate the necessity of Christ’s sinless life?

4. Comprehensive Coverage: The Complete Sacrifice

Old Testament Pattern:

Different sacrifices addressed different aspects of sin and relationship with God
The Day of Atonement provided annual comprehensive cleansing
Sacrifices needed constant repetition, showing their incompleteness

Fulfillment in Christ:

“By a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14)
His sacrifice was “once for all” (Hebrews 7:27, 9:12, 10:10)
His work addresses all aspects of our alienation from God

Study Question: According to Hebrews 10:1-14, why were repeated sacrifices necessary under the old covenant, and how does Christ’s sacrifice differ?

5. Covenant Establishment: Blood of the New Covenant

Old Testament Pattern:

Covenants were ratified with sacrificial blood (Genesis 15:9-18)
Moses sprinkled “the blood of the covenant” on the people (Exodus 24:8)
Blood sealed the agreement between God and His people

Fulfillment in Christ:

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many” (Mark 14:24)
Christ is “the mediator of a new covenant” (Hebrews 9:15)
His blood establishes a “better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6)

Study Question: How does Hebrews 9:15-22 explain the necessity of blood for covenant establishment?

Study Method: Typological Interpretation

To connect Old Testament sacrifices to Christ, practice typological interpretation:

Identify the original meaning of the sacrifice in its Old Testament context
Look for New Testament connections where this sacrifice is explicitly linked to Christ
Note both similarities and differences between the type (OT sacrifice) and antitype (Christ)
Recognize escalation – Christ always fulfills and exceeds the Old Testament type
Avoid forced connections – focus on connections the New Testament itself makes

Example: The Day of Atonement and Christ

Let’s apply this method to the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16):

Original Context:

Annual ceremony for comprehensive cleansing of priest, people, and sanctuary
Involved two goats: one sacrificed, one sent away bearing sins (the scapegoat)
Only time the high priest entered the Most Holy Place
Provided temporary atonement for all types of sin

New Testament Connections:

Hebrews 9-10 explicitly connects this ceremony to Christ’s work
Christ is both the sacrifice and the high priest who offers it
He enters not an earthly sanctuary but heaven itself
His blood provides eternal rather than annual redemption

Similarities and Differences:

Similar: Blood is required for atonement in both
Similar: Both address comprehensive cleansing from sin
Different: Christ’s sacrifice happens once, not annually
Different: Christ’s priesthood is permanent, not hereditary

Escalation:

From temporary to eternal atonement
From repeated to once-for-all sacrifice
From symbolic to actual removal of sin
From restricted access to God to bold approach to the throne of grace

Moving from Connection to Application

After identifying these connections, ask these application questions:

How does seeing Christ as the fulfillment of this sacrifice deepen my appreciation of His work?
What aspects of Christ’s sacrifice might I have overlooked without this Old Testament background?
How does this connection help me understand both the continuity and discontinuity between the covenants?
What response should this understanding produce in my worship and daily life?

Study Application

To apply this method in your own study:

Choose one Old Testament sacrifice or ceremony
Study it carefully in its original context
Search for New Testament passages that connect it to Christ
Identify similarities, differences, and escalation
Consider how this enriches your understanding of Christ’s work

This approach transforms ancient sacrificial rituals from obscure historical practices into vibrant pictures that illuminate the person and work of Christ.

For reflection: How does understanding Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrificial system affect your appreciation of communion/the Lord’s Supper? How might this understanding deepen your next experience of this memorial?