See JESUS in the Old Testament – Just Keith Harris

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Ruth

The Redeemer, the Restored Inheritance, and
the Coming King

The book of Ruth takes place during the dark days of the judges, yet it tells a remarkably hopeful story of God’s providence and covenant kindness. After famine, loss, and tragedy leave Naomi and Ruth seemingly without hope, God quietly works through ordinary people and ordinary events to accomplish His purposes. Unlike many books of the Old Testament, Ruth contains no dramatic miracles or prophetic visions. Instead, it reveals how God’s sovereign hand is often at work behind the scenes, guiding the lives of His people and showing His steadfast love through their faithfulness to one another.

At the heart of the story is redemption. Ruth, a Moabite widow, finds refuge among God’s people and is redeemed by Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. His willingness to act on behalf of Ruth and Naomi restores what had been lost and secures a future they could not provide for themselves. In this way, Boaz points beyond himself to Jesus, the greater Redeemer, who rescues His people and brings them into the family of God. Throughout the book, the covenant kindness (Hebrew – chesed) shown by Ruth and Boaz reflects the steadfast love and mercy of God Himself, a love ultimately displayed in its fullness through Jesus.

Because we will be reading the whole book, you will follow the story from beginning to end. You’ll see the Redeemer in Boaz’s gracious work on behalf of Ruth and Naomi, the Restored Inheritance in God’s reversal of their loss and emptiness, and the Coming King in the genealogy that concludes the book. Set immediately after Judges, Ruth provides a hopeful answer to the chaos of those days, tracing the line that leads to King David — and ultimately to JESUS, the Son of David, through whom God’s promise to bless all nations is fulfilled. Ruth herself, like Rahab before her, stands in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5), reminding us that God’s redeeming grace extends to people from every nation who trust and have faith in Him.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Ruth!

July 10 — ch. 1
Naomi returns to Bethlehem in grief and emptiness, while Ruth clings to her and takes refuge among the people of the LORD.
July 11 — ch. 2
God provides for Ruth and Naomi through Boaz, a worthy man whose kindness gives them hope in their time of need.
July 12 — ch. 3
Ruth seeks refuge through Boaz as her redeemer, trusting him to act with covenant faithfulness on her behalf.
July 13 — ch. 4
Boaz redeems Ruth and restores Naomi’s inheritance, carrying forward the family line that will lead to David and ultimately to Jesus.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we the book of 1 Samuel!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Judges

The Flawed Deliverers, the Ruin of Sin, and
the Need for a King

The book of Judges covers one of the darkest periods in Israel’s history. After the victories and covenant renewal of Joshua, Israel failed to fully obey the LORD and gradually turned to the gods/practices of the surrounding nations. The book follows a tragic pattern often referenced as the Judges Cycle: God’s people rebel against Him and fall into idolatry; God allows foreign nations to oppress them and bring them back to Him; the people cry out for help; God raises up a judge to deliver them; the people enjoy a season of peace; and then, after the judge dies, they quickly return to sin and the cycle begins again (and again). Each repetition reveals a deeper spiritual decline, showing the devastating consequences of covenant unfaithfulness and life lived apart from God’s rule.

The judges themselves point beyond themselves to Jesus. Though God uses Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, and others to deliver His people, each of them is deeply flawed. Some begin well and end poorly; others display serious moral and spiritual failures even while being used by God. Yet several of these judges are later commended for their faith in Hebrews 11. Their inclusion reminds us that God’s saving purposes are accomplished by His grace rather than human perfection. As we have recently seen in Hebrews, these men and women are part of the great cloud of witnesses who ultimately direct our attention beyond themselves to Jesus, the perfect Deliverer and the true Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

While not every chapter of Judges is included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the Flawed Delivers, the Ruin of Sin, and the Need for a King. You’ll see Israel’s repeated failures (chs. 1-2), the faith of Deborah (ch. 4), the rise and decline of Gideon (chs. 6-8), the tragic account of Jephthah (ch. 11), the strength and weakness of Samson (chs. 13-16), and the shocking collapse of Israel’s spiritual and moral life (chs. 17-21). The books repeated refrain — In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes — reveals the heart of the problem. Judges leaves us longing for a righteous King who can truly save His people. That longing finds its fulfillment in JESUS, who perfectly rules, perfectly delivers, and perfectly obeys where every judge failed.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Judges!

June 25 — ch. 1
Israel begins to possess the land, but their incomplete obedience leaves enemies among them and sets the stage for future compromise.
June 26 — ch. 2
Israel turns from the LORD after Joshua’s generation, beginning a cycle of rebellion, judgment, crying out, and deliverance through flawed judges.
June 27 — ch. 4
God delivers Israel through Deborah, Barak, and Jael, showing His power to save His people through unexpected and unlikely means.
June 28 — ch. 6
God calls Gideon to deliver Israel from Midian, showing mercy to His fearful people even when their suffering is tied to their own sin.
June 29 — ch. 7
God saves Israel through Gideon’s small and weakened army, making it clear that deliverance comes by His power.
June 30 — ch. 8
Gideon refuses kingship but leads Israel into idolatry, showing the need for a better deliverer who can give God’s people lasting rest.
July 1 — ch. 11
God uses Jephthah to deliver Israel, but his tragic vow reveals how deeply Israel’s faith has been distorted by the nations around them.
July 2 — ch. 13
God announces the birth of Samson, raising up a deliverer set apart from the womb to begin saving Israel from the Philistines.
July 3 — ch. 14
Samson’s sinful desires and conflict with the Philistines show God working through a deeply flawed deliverer to begin rescuing His people.
July 4 — ch. 16
Samson falls through his own sin, yet God grants him final victory over the Philistines, showing his weakness and Israel’s need for a greater Savior.
July 5 — ch. 17
Micah makes his own shrine and priesthood, showing the spiritual confusion of a people who do what is right in their own eyes.
July 6 — ch. 18
The tribe of Dan steals Micah’s idols and priest, revealing how far Israel has fallen when worship is shaped by convenience instead of God’s Word.
July 7 — ch. 19
Israel’s moral collapse is exposed through shocking violence, showing the ruin that comes when everyone does what is right in his own eyes.
July 8 — ch. 20
Israel responds to evil with civil war, revealing a nation broken by sin and in desperate need of righteous leadership.
July 9 — ch. 21
Judges ends with grief, confusion, and compromise, leaving Israel longing for a true King who will lead God’s people in righteousness.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin the book of Ruth!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Joshua

The Greater Yeshua, the Scarlet Cord, and
the Promised Inheritance

Joshua begins a new chapter in God’s Story as Israel finally enters the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Under Joshua’s leadership, God brings HIs people across the Jordan River, defeats their enemies, and gives them rest in the land He had sword to give them (chs. 1:1-9, 21:43-45). The book highlights God’s faithfulness to keep His promises and His presence with His people as He leads them into their inheritance. yet Joshua is not merely a story of military conquest but about covenant faithfulness, calling God’s people to trust Him, obey His Word, and worship Him alone.

Joshua also points forward to Jesus. Joshua’s name (Hebrew: Yehoshua, often shortened to Yeshua) means “The LORD saves”, the same name ultimately given to Jesus. As Joshua succeeds Moses and leads God’s people into the promised land, he foreshadows Jesus, the greater Yeshua, who brings His people into a greater inheritance and a better rest (Hebrews 4:8-11). The salvation of Rahab through the sign of the scarlet cord (ch. 2) displays God’s mercy toward those who trust Him, even outsiders, and reminds us that God’s saving purposes extend beyond Israel to all who come to Him by grace through faith. Throughout the book, God proves Himself both faithful to His promises and mighty to save.

While not every chapter of Joshua is included, these readings have been carefully selected to highlight the Greater Yeshua, the Scarlet Cord, and the Promised Inheritance. You’ll follow Joshua’s commissioning (ch. 1), Rahab’s rescue through faith (ch. 2), Israel’s crossing of the Jordan (chs. 3-4), covenant renewal and preparation for conquest (ch. 5), the fall of Jericho (ch. 6), God’s mercy to the Gibeonites (ch. 9), His victory over Israel’s enemies (ch. 10), the fulfillment of HIs promises in giving the land (ch. 21), and Joshua’s final call to covenant faithfulness (ch. 24). These passages show that God keeps every promise He makes, provides salvation for those who put their trust/faith in Him, and points beyond Joshua to JESUS, who leads His people into their eternal inheritance.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Joshua!

June 15 — ch. 1
God commissions Joshua to lead His people into the land He promised, calling Him to courage, obedience, and confidence in God’s presence.
June 16 — ch. 2
God shows mercy to Rahab and preserves her household through the scarlet cord, giving a glimpse of salvation by grace through faith in Him.
June 17 — ch. 3
God leads His people across the Jordan on dry ground through the ark of His presence, showing that He Himself goes before them.
June 18 — ch. 4
God commands His people to set up memorials after crossing the Jordan so future generations would remember His mighty hand and worship Him.
June 19 — ch. 5
God prepares His people to enter the land through circumcision, the Passover, and the end of manna, marking them as His covenant people.
June 20 — ch. 6
God brings down Jericho by His power, judging the city while sparing Rahab and her household according to His promise to her.
June 21 — ch. 9
God’s people are deceived by the Gibeonites because they do not seek His counsel, yet they keep their oath and preserve them alive.
June 22 — ch. 10
God fights for His people, giving them victory over their enemies and showing that the promised inheritance comes by His power, not theirs.
June 23 — ch. 21
God gives His people the land He swore to their fathers, showing that not one word of His good promises failed.
June 24 — ch. 24
Joshua calls Israel to remember the LORD’s saving work and serve Him alone, warning them against idolatry as they renew the covenant.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin the book of Judges!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Deuteronomy

The Greater Prophet, the Curse Removed, and
the Promise of Redemption

Deuteronomy records Moses’s final sermons to Israel as they stand on the edge of the Promised Land. Looking back over their history, Moses repeatedly reminds them of God’s faithfulness despite their sin and many failures and calls them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength (ch. 6:4-5). This book serves as both the conclusion of the Pentateuch (refers to first five books of the Bible, literally means “five scrolls”) and the bridge to the books that follow, urging the new generation not to repeat the unbelief of their forefathers. Yet Deuteronomy also recognizes a deeper issue: God’s people need more than laws written on stone — they need new hearts, transformed by God’s grace.

This longing finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Moses promises that God will raise up a Prophet, one whom the people must hear and obey (ch. 18:15-19). The NT identifies Jesus as that greater Prophet (Acts 3:22-23). Deuteronomy also points forward to the cross when it declares that a man hung on a tree is under God’s curse (ch. 21:22-23), a passage the apostle Paul applies directly to Jesus, who became a curse for us so that we might be redeemed (Galatians 3:13). Finally, Deuteronomy anticipates a day when God will circumcise the hearts of His people (ch. 30:6), a promise fulfilled through the new covenant established by Jesus and applied by His Spirit (Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:24-28).

While only selected chapters are included, these readings have been carefully chosen to highlight the greater Prophet, the curse removed, and the promise of redemption. You’ll see God’s call to wholehearted love and obedience (ch. 6-11), the promise of the coming Prophet (ch. 18:15-22), the shadow of the curse that Jesus would bear (ch. 21:22-23), and the hope of redeption through a heart transformed by Jesus (ch. 30). The book concludes with Moses’s death (ch. 34), reminding us that even Israel’s greatest leader could not ultimately save God’s people himself. Deuteronomy leaves us looking for One greater than Moses — and in Jesus, the long-awaited Prophet, Redeemer, and Savior, we’ve found Him.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Deuteronomy!

June 7 — ch. 6
God commands His people to love Him with all their heart, soul, and might, revealing their need for a transformed heart.
June 8 — ch. 7
God sets His love on His people and chooses them, not because of them but out of His steadfast covenantal love, best demonstrated in Christ.
June 9 — ch. 8
God humbles and provides for His people, revealing their need for the heart change He must provide.
June 10 — ch. 10
God calls His people to circumcise their hearts, revealing the need for the curse of sin to be removed.
June 11 — ch. 11
God sets before His people both blessing and curse, revealing the need for the curse to be removed.
June 12 — ch. 18:15-22, 21:22-23
God promises a greater Prophet and reveals the curse, pointing to Jesus who is the Word of God and bears the curse for our sin.
June 13 — ch. 30
God promises to restore His people and change their hearts so that they may truly love and obey Him.
June 14 — ch. 34
God buries Moses, and His people are left waiting for a prophet like Him. There’s good news: Jesus is greater than Moses!

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Part II — Seeing Jesus in Israel’s History in the book of Joshua!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Numbers

The Faithful Guide, Salvation Lifted, and
the Promised King

Numbers follows Israel’s journey from Mt. Sinai to the edge of the Promised Land, revealing both God’s faithfulness and His people’s repeated unbelief. Though God visibly guides Israel by His present and remains faithful to His covenant promises, the people continually grumble, rebel, and refuse to trust Him (ch. 9:15-23; 13-14). Their unbelief delays their entrance into the land and brings God’s judgment upon an entire generation. Yet even in the wilderness, God doesn’t abandon them. He instead preserves them, provides for them, and continues leading them to the inheritance promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

This book points to Jesus in several remarkable ways. The LORD’s faithful guidance of Israel anticipates Jesus, the Good Shepherd who leads HIs people through the wilderness of this world (John 10:11-18). When God instructs Moses to lift up the bronze serpent so that those who look upon it may live (ch. 21:4-9), Jesus declares that this event forshadowed His own crucifixion: “As Moses lifted up the servant in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up” (John 3:14-15). Numbers also contains one of the clearest messianic promises in the Law when Balaam foretells that “a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (ch. 24:17), pointing forward to the coming King who will reign over God’s people.

While not every chapter of Numbers is included, these readings have been carefully selected to highlight the faithful guide, salvation lifted, and the promised King. You’ll see God’s presence leading His people (ch. 9), Israel’s tragic unbelief at the border of Canaan (ch. 13-14), God’s provision of salvation through the bronze serpent (ch. 21), His sovereign blessing through Balaam’s prophecies despite his attempts to curse Israel (ch. 22-24), and the commissioning of Joshua as Israel prepares to enter the land (ch. 27:12-23). Together, these passages remind us that God remains faithful even when His people fail, that salvation comes through looking in faith to His provision, and that all of God’s promises ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the greater Joshua and the promised King!

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Numbers!

May 29 — ch. 9
God calls His people to keep the Passover and faithfully guides them by His presence, pointing to Jesus, our Passover Lamb and Savior.
May 30 — ch. 13
God’s people see the promised land but doubt God’s promise, responding in fear instead of faith.
May 31 — ch. 14
God’s people rebel against Him, but through Moses’s intercession God shows mercy even as He brings judgment.
June 1 — ch. 21
God provides salvation from judgment through the lifted serpent, pointing to Jesus who was lifted so that whoever believes may have eternal life.
June 2 — ch. 22
God shows that His Word stands and His people cannot be cursed because He alone determines blessing and judgment.
June 3 — ch. 23
God declares His unchanging Word, showing that He does not lie and His blessing cannot be revoked.
June 4 — ch. 24
God reveals the coming King from Jacob, a star and scepter who will rule and reign over all.
June 5 — ch. 25
God judges His people’s sin, but atonement through a faithful priest turns away His wrath, pointing to Jesus, the high priest of a greater atonement.
June 6 — ch. 27:12-23
God appoints Joshua to lead His people after Moses so they are not without a shepherd, pointing to Jesus who is greater than Moses or Joshua.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Deuteronomy!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Leviticus

The Sacrifice for Sin, the Call to Holiness, and
the Hope of Atonement

Leviticus picks up right where Exodus leaves off, with God’s glory dwelling among His people in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35, ch. 1:1). This raises a crucial question: how can a sinful people live in the presence of holy God? Leviticus answers by giving instructions for sacrifice, worship, and daily life, showing that sin must be dealt with and that God’s people are called to be holy as He is holy (ch. 17:11, 19:2). Through these laws, God graciously provides a way for Israel to approach Him, remain in fellowship with Him, and live as His set-apart people.

These sacrifices and rituals point beyond themselves to Jesus Christ. The offerings in Leviticus show that atonement requires the shedding of blood (ch. 17:11), but they had to be repeated again and again. Jesus fulfills this as the once-for-all sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 9:11-14, 10:1-14), making a way for full and final forgiveness. He is both the perfect sacrifice and the true High Priest, and through Him we are made clean and brought near to God. The call to holiness in Leviticus is also fulfilled in Jesus, who makes His people holy and calls them to live in that holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16).

While only a few chapters are selected, these readings have been carefully chosen to reflect the heart of Leviticus as we see it point to Jesus. You’ll see the necessity of sacrifice (ch. 1), the depth of atonement and the role of blood (ch. 16, 17:11), the call to live as God’s holy people (ch. 19), and the rhythms of worship that shape life around God’s presence (ch. 23). Together, they trace the way to holiness and the hope of atonement, showing both the problem of sin and God’s gracious provision. These passages not only prepare us to understand the work of Jesus but also call us to live as a people made holy through Him.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Leviticus!

May 25 — ch. 1
God provides the burnt offering to atone for sin through a spotless substitute, pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God without blemish or sin.
May 26 — ch. 16, 17:11
God introduces the Day of Atonement, where a sin-bearing substitute and the life blood deal with sin, pointing to Jesus whose blood cleanses all sin.
May 27 — ch. 19
God calls His people to be holy as He is holy and to love their neighbor as themselves, pointing to Jesus who is holy, holy, holy.
May 28 — ch. 23
God appoints feasts for His people to remember His saving works and worship Him, pointing to their fulfillment in Jesus.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Numbers!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Genesis

The Promised Seed, the Covenant, and the Substitute

Genesis begins God’s Story by showing Him as Creator of all things, making a world that was “very good” (ch. 1:31), yet sin quickly enters through Adam and Eve’s disobedience (ch. 3:1-7). Sin’s effects spread through every part of life — violence, corruption, and rebellion against God (ch. 6:5, 11:1-9). Even in judgment, though, God shows mercy and grace, preserving Noah through the flood and making a covenant with him (ch. 9:8-17). As Genesis unfolds, the focus narrows from all humanity to one family, as God calls Abraham and promises to bless all nations through him (ch. 12:1-3). This shift reveals that God is not abandoning His world but is working out His plan to redeem it.

From the beginning, Genesis points forward to Jesus. God promises that the seed of woman will defeat the serpent (ch. 3:15), a promise ultimately fulfilled in Christ (Galatians 3:16, 1 John 3:8). Through Abraham, God establishes a covenant of blessing for all nations (ch. 12:1-3, 15:1-6, 17:1-8), which finds its fulfillment in Jesus and the new covenant in His blood (Luke 22:20, Galatians 3:8). When Abraham is called to offer Isaac, God provides a substitute in his place (ch. 22:13), pointing to Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, Romans 8:32). Even as the Story progresses, the promise of a coming King emerges through Judah’s line (ch. 49:10), ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the Son of Abraham and and Son of David (Matthew 1:1).

While not every chapter of Genesis is included, these readings have been carefully suggested to help trace this gospel thread clearly for Christ Community and The Foundry. You’ll move from creation to the fall to the flood and God’s covenant with Noah, then to Abraham and the promises that shape the rest of Scripture. Key moments — like God’s covenant in Genesis 15 and 17, the substitute in Genesis 22, the reaffirmation of God’s promise in Genesis 28, God’s providential saving work through Joseph in Genesis 50, and the promise of the coming King in Genesis 49 — highlight The Promised Seed, the Covenant, and the Substitute. Some passages point directly to Jesus, while others build the foundation we need to understand Him and to understand later chapters in later books of the Old Testament, too. By the end of Genesis, God’s people are in Egypt, waiting for deliverance, and setting the stage for what comes next.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Genesis!

April 18 — ch. 1:1-23
God creates a good and ordered world by His Word, pointing to Jesus, the Word of God through whom all things were made and hold together.
April 19 — ch. 2:4-25
God forms man from the dust and establishes marriage, pointing to Jesus, the Bridegroom of the Church who gives life and restores the lost.
April 20 — ch. 3
Sin enters the world through Adam, but God promises the coming Seed who will crush the serpent and atone for sin.
April 21 — ch. 4
Sin spreads through Cain, but God preserves the promised offspring through whom people call on His name.
April 22 — ch. 5
Death reigns through Adam’s line, yet God preserves the promised offspring.
April 23 — ch. 6:1-8
Humanity’s sin grows great and fills the earth, yet Noah find favor by God’s grace.
April 24 — ch. 6:9-7:24
God judges sin through the flood but provides the ark, pointing to Jesus as the only way to be saved from the wrath of God.
April 25 — ch. 8:1-9:17
God delivers Noah through the flood and establishes His covenant, pointing to mercy after judgment.
April 26 — ch. 9:18-10:32
The nations are birthed and spread from Noah’s sons, with God preserving the promised line through Shem.
April 27 — ch. 11:1-26
God scatters the nations at Babel yet preserves the promised line through Shem to Abram (Abraham).
April 28 — ch. 11:27-12:9
God calls Abram and promises to bless all nations through his offspring — which, according to Galatians 3:16 is a reference to Jesus.
April 29 — ch. 15
God confirms His covenant with Abram, promising offspring and counting his faith as righteousness.
April 30 — ch. 17:1-22
God establishes His covenant with Abraham through Isaac, pointing to Jesus, the promised Offspring.
May 1 — ch. 22
God provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac, pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God who would die as our Substitute.
May 2 — ch. 28:10-22
God confirms His promise to Jacob and reveals a ladder to heaven, pointing to Jesus as the only Way to the Father.
May 3 — ch. 37
Joseph is rejected and sold by his brothers, yet God already has a plan to raise him up.
May 4 — ch. 40
God gifts Joseph with the ability to interpret dreams, bringing life to one and judgment to another.
May 5 — ch. 41
God raises Joseph from the pit to rule and provide bread in a time of famine, preparing the way to preserve His people.
May 6 — ch. 44
Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin, showing a heart of sacrifice and responsibility.
May 7 — ch. 45
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, showing God preserving His people and the promised line despite their sin.
May 8 — ch. 46
God brings Jacob and his family to Egypt, not only preserving the promised line but fulfilling His promise that they would become a nation.
May 9 — ch. 49:1-2, 8-12
Jacob blesses his sons before his death, prophesying a coming King from Judah — Jesus — to whom all nations will bow.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Exodus!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Exodus

The Deliverer, the Passover Lamb, and God’s Presence

Exodus continues God’s Story as His people, now multiplied in Egypt, are enslaved and oppressed (ch. 1:8-14). Though it may seem to some that God’s presence seems hidden at first, He hears His people’s cries, remembers His covenant with Abraham, and raises up Moses as their deliverer (ch. 2:23-25, 3:7-10). God reveals His power of Egypt through mighty acts of judgment and brings His people out of slavery, making it clear that He alone is the Lord (ch. 6:6-7). He leads them through the Red Sea on dry ground, defeats their enemies, and provides for them in the wilderness, showing both His power to save and His faithfulness to sustain (ch. 14:13-14, 16:12). At Mount Sinai, God establishes His covenant with Israel, giving His Law and calling them to be His people (ch. 20:2-3, 24:7-8).

Exodus points to clearly to Jesus as the greater fulfillment of these events. God raises up Moses as their deliverer, but Jesus is the greater Deliverer who rescues His people — not from Pharaoh but from sin and death (John 8:34-36). The Passover, where the blood of the lamb saves God’s people from judgment (ch. 12:13), points to Jesus, the true Passover Lamb whose blood brings redemption (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:18-19). The covenant established at Sinai (ch. 24:8) anticipates the new covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20). And just as God dwelt among His people in the tabernacle (ch. 40:34-38), so in Jesus, God “tabernacled” among us in the flesh (John 1:14), securing forever His presence with His people.

While not ever chapter of Exodus is included, these readings have been carefully selected to help trace this gospel thread clearly. You’ll follow the story from Israel’s bondage (chs. 1-3) to God’s promise of deliverance (ch. 6:1-13), the Passover (ch. 12), and the salvation at the Red Sea (chs. 14-15). Along the way, God provides for His people (chs. 16-17), establishes His covenant (chs. 20, 24), and reveals both His holiness and mercy when the covenant is broken and renewed (chs. 32-34). The book culminates with God’s presence filling the tabernacle (ch. 40), highlighting The Deliverer, the Passover Lamb, and God’s Presence. Some passages directly point to Jesus, while others build the foundation needed to understand Him, showing that the God who saves also dwells with His people.

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Exodus!

May 10 — ch. 1
God multiplies His people in Egypt according to His promise, even as they are oppressed.
May 11 — ch. 2
God hears the cries of His people, remembers His covenant with them, and preserves Moses, preparing to raise him up to deliver them.
May 12 — ch. 3
God reveals Himself as I AM and calls Moses, promising to be with him to deliver His people.
May 13 — ch. 6:1-13
God reaffirms His covenant and promises to redeem His people with a mighty hand.
May 14 — ch. 12
God delivers His people through the blood of the Passover lamb, pointing to Jesus, the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
May 15 — ch. 14
God parts the Red Sea, delivering His people as they walk across on dry land, and defe3ats their enemy with the waters to save them.
May 16 — ch. 15
God’s people praise Him as their salvation and Redeemer, pointing to Jesus, the eternal King who saves, redeems, and reigns forever.
May 17 — ch. 16
God provides bread from heaven (manna) to sustain His people in the wilderness, pointing to Jesus, the Bread of Life.
May 18 — ch. 17
God provides water from the rock and victory over their enemies, pointing to the life given and the ultimate victory over every enemy in Him.
May 19 — ch. 20
God gives His Law, revealing His holiness, our inability to keep the Law, and our need for Him to rescue us from our sin.
May 20 — ch. 24
God confirms His covenant with His people through the blood of sacrifice, pointing to a new and greater covenant in the blood of Jesus.
May 21 — ch. 32
God’s people break the covenant through idolatry, and Moses intercedes for them, reminding us our our need for Jesus as our Advocate when we sin.
May 22 — ch. 33
God promises His presence to dwell among His people through the tent of meeting, pointing to the presence of God dwelling in the person of Jesus.
May 23 — ch. 34
God renews His covenant with His people and reveals His steadfast love, mercy, and grace, pointing to their fullness in Jesus.
May 24 — ch. 40
God fills the tabernacle with His glory, representing Him dwelling among His people and pointing us to Jesus taking on flesh and dwelling with us.

Continue in the See JESUS in the Old Testament readings as we begin Leviticus!

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Genesis

The Promised Seed, the Covenant, and the Substitute

Let’s dive in together and see Jesus in Genesis!

April 18 — ch. 1:1-23
God creates a good and ordered world by His Word, pointing to Jesus, the Word of God through whom all things were made and hold together.
April 19 — ch. 2:4-25
God forms man from the dust and establishes marriage, pointing to Jesus, the Bridegroom of the Church who gives life and restores the lost.
April 20 — ch. 3
Sin enters the world through Adam, but God promises the coming Seed who will crush the serpent and atone for sin.
April 21 — ch. 4
Sin spreads through Cain, but God preserves the promised offspring through whom people call on His name.
April 22 — ch. 5
Death reigns through Adam’s line, yet God preserves the promised offspring.
April 23 — ch. 6:1-8
Humanity’s sin grows great and fills the earth, yet Noah find favor by God’s grace.
April 24 — ch. 6:9-7:24
God judges sin through the flood but provides the ark, pointing to Jesus as the only way to be saved from the wrath of God.
April 25 — ch. 8:1-9:17
God delivers Noah through the flood and establishes His covenant, pointing to mercy after judgment.
April 26 — ch. 9:18-10:32
The nations are birthed and spread from Noah’s sons, with God preserving the promised line through Shem.
April 27 — ch. 11:1-26
God scatters the nations at Babel yet preserves the promised line through Shem to Abram (Abraham).
April 28 — ch. 11:27-12:9
God calls Abram and promises to bless all nations through his offspring — which, according to Galatians 3:16 is a reference to Jesus.
April 29 — ch. 15
God confirms His covenant with Abram, promising offspring and counting his faith as righteousness.
April 30 — ch. 17:1-22
God establishes His covenant with Abraham through Isaac, pointing to Jesus, the promised Offspring.
May 1 — ch. 22
God provides a ram as a substitute for Isaac, pointing to Jesus, the Lamb of God who would die as our Substitute.
May 2 — ch. 28:10-22
God confirms His promise to Jacob and reveals a ladder to heaven, pointing to Jesus as the only Way to the Father.
May 3 — ch. 37
Joseph is rejected and sold by his brothers, yet God already has a plan to raise him up.
May 4 — ch. 40
God gifts Joseph with the ability to interpret dreams, bringing life to one and judgment to another.
May 5 — ch. 41
God raises Joseph from the pit to rule and provide bread in a time of famine, preparing the way to preserve His people.
May 6 — ch. 44
Judah offers himself in place of Benjamin, showing a heart of sacrifice and responsibility.
May 7 — ch. 45
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, showing God preserving His people and the promised line despite their sin.
May 8 — ch. 46
God brings Jacob and his family to Egypt, not only preserving the promised line but fulfilling His promise that they would become a nation.
May 9 — ch. 49:1-2, 8-12
Jacob blesses his sons before his death, prophesying a coming King from Judah — Jesus — to whom all nations will bow.

See JESUS in the Old Testament — Bible Reading Plan

For about a year and a half at Christ Community Church (Grenada, MS) and The Foundry Church (Winona, MS), we’ve been involved in various Bible reading plans to help us get into the Word of God for the purpose of growing in and closer to Jesus.

We’ve read through various books of the Bible like Proverbs and the Psalms, and we just completed 260 days reading through the New Testament a chapter a day. We now turn our focus to the Old Testament, but we aren’t changing our focus — we’re reading selected passages in each Old Testament book looking at how Jesus shows up from before “In the beginning, God….” all the way to His incarnation in the gospels.

You don’t have to be a member of either Christ Community or The Foundry; you are welcome to join us in the readings and grow in Christ together!

Below, you’ll find links to go to the digital versions of each section of our reading plan as well as places to download a pdf of each section.

Part I — Seeing Jesus in the Law

Part I (Law) Handout Download

Part II — Seeing JESUS in Israel’s History

Joshua | The Greater Yeshua, the Scarlet Cord, and the Promised Inheritance
Judges | The Flawed Deliverer, the Ruin of Sin, and the Need for a King
Ruth | The Redeemer, the Restored Inheritance, and the Coming King
1 Samuel | The Promised Anointed, the Rejected King, and the Champion Who Saves
2 Samuel | The Forever King, Covenant Kindness, and the Altar of Mercy
Kings & Chronicles | The Son of David, the Greater Temple, and Hope Beyond Exile

Part II (History) Handout Download

Part III —