Welcome back to Ransom Paid—our journey through the full storyline of Scripture, tracing God’s faithful and redemptive plan from Genesis to Jesus. In Part 2 of our Old Testament overview, Pastor Douglas Humphrey walks us through the exile, the return, and the voices that carried hope and warning in dark times.

In this message, we explore:

• Daniel’s bold faith in Babylon
• Ezra and Nehemiah’s call to rebuild worship and identity
• God’s discipline through exile—and His mercy through restoration
• Malachi’s final warning and the 400 years of silence that followed
• And the glorious promise: the Redeemer will come. This is more than history—it’s a mirror to our moment. Just like Daniel, we are called to stand firm in a culture that pressures us to conform. Just like the Israelites, we are called to return, rebuild, and worship God above all.

Key Takeaway: Before God rebuilds your platform, He rebuilds your altar—because until He has your worship, He doesn’t truly have you.

Don’t forget to download the timeline chart and follow along visually as the redemptive story unfolds. Red triangles move the narrative forward, and the upper/lower sections help you understand how the prophets and history books intersect.

Today’s service also includes the baptism of Miranda Turner, Joshua Davidson, and Paige Davidson—three believers declaring publicly that they belong to Christ. Let’s rejoice together in what God has done!