Time Travel to the Old Testament

Synopsis:

 We are taken back into time—more specifically to the time of the Old Testament. The idea is to paint a mental picture to make the oft-difficult world of the Hebrew texts more accessible. The author senses a strong deficiency in reading the Old Testament in daily study for Christians and seeks to remedy it by offering a tour that helps us jump back into time and into the world of those we read about.

  Pro’s:

1. The author’s emphasis on story.

 The author discusses the value of good story-telling and that God is a master story-teller. He uses the story of Esther and how God appears to be absent in the book because He does not show Himself to her. However, he points out all of the so-called “coincidences” in the story where only God, Himself, could have been orchestrating the movements to show His power over a plot of genocide against the Israelites. Explicit details are not always provided, but it allows the reader of the story to have numerous “A-ha!” moments as they watch the pieces of the puzzle come together.

This also provides to us further evidence that God made us in His image as rational creatures, capable of reading, interpreting and drawing the exact conclusions intended in the story. Instead of always spoon-feeding the point, God provides JUST ENOUGH clues for us to experience those discoveries and put a smile on God’s face as we, His children, “get it.” When we change our perspective and see the masterfully woven thread for what it is, we will see true history as an unveiling of a beautiful tapestry of God’s works. This hasn’t always been my point of view and have struggled with getting through some of the OT—but this volume has stoked a new fire and provided new glasses with which to see.

 2. The “Bible Field Trips” at the end of each chapter. Each excursion takes you to a different part of the Old Testament and has a goal of extracting story details from each passage. It guides the reader in locating the purposeful details in the tapestry. It’s not enough to cite verses here and there; it’s often too cursory a citation to illustrate a point. These exercises provide a practical application that is meant to incite more passion for the excavation of God’s treasure trove in the Hebrew stories.

 3. Pictures. Everyone loves pictures. But not too many. And the author does a good job at offering some effective images in just the right places to bring additional value to the discussion. It’s not over done, so it is welcome and does bring the reader to the scene that’s being painted by the story.

 4. A faithful progression towards Christ. If this is the only book one reads in trying to grasp the OT, it is a great choice because it will guide the reader to the covenantal promise and fulfillment in the Second Person of the Trinity; Jesus Christ. Sure, many other faithful books on the OT do the same, but this well-written, engaging volume brings the reader gently to the realization that the entire point of the OT is to point us to the covenant promise of salvation in Christ. All of the strange rituals, sacrifices, etc.—all pointed to the coming Redeemer.

The author is gifted and is able to speak in a good balance of modern and scholarly vernacular. It’s accessible, readable and educational.

 There are other valuable aspects of this book that warrant its purchase and careful study, but this review is already getting a bit long. So I will cite something, for the sake of being balanced, that perhaps this volume could have done better, if only by a little.

  Cons:

 1. The cover art is a little cheesy and may appear to some as a low-budget, self-published book. No offense to the artist—it is a good image, I am just not sure it will appeal to those who might judge books by their aesthetic cover. Some, like myself, are more attracted to simple yet affective cover art. There just appears to be too much going on with the picture that was used. I am speaking for myself here, but when I originally saw the cover, I wasn’t too eager to read the book. I know—shallow, right? But, this review was provided in exchange for a copy of the book so I read it so I can provide an honest one. I am glad I did. So this is such a minor distraction, but if you read this review and are not sure because the art work looks cheesy—overcome the distraction and purchase the book. It’s worth it. Get the Kindle version if you must—but get it.

  Final Verdict:

 Reading the Old Testament has always been a labor of love for me. It’s not an easy read and sometimes some of the rituals and rules seem harsh and this makes it even more difficult to read. However, Chris Sinkinson has done a splendid job of transforming the reading of this oft-challenging half of the story of God’s plan for humanity. He tackles the real thoughts that have at least gone through my head at times when reading the OT and does a great service to the readers in rearranging the perspective to make it not only bearable, but ENJOYABLE to read!

 This is a fantastic resource for those who struggle with reading through the Old Testament and even for those who enjoy it, because there are some great parts that might help you encourage others who struggle if they don’t ever pick up this book. So even if you can honestly say, “Oh, I have always loved the OT and find it a joy to read”—you should buy this book. But if you are like me and struggle to find much joy in the beginning of God’s story, then you MUST pick up this book.