The Story
Jan 13, 2019 • Chris Reighley
The Story:
The Bible As One Continuing Story of God and His People
by Mac Lucado & Randy Frazee
The Story tells the grandest, most compelling story of all time!
God goes to great lengths to rescue lost and hurting people. That is what The Story is all about: the story of the Bible, God’s great love affair with humanity. Condensed into 31 accessible chapters, The Story sweeps you into the unfolding progression of Bible characters and events from Genesis to Revelation. Like any good story, The Story is filled with intrigue, drama, conflict, romance, and redemption—and this story’s true!
God’s plan to redeem humanity moves from the universal to the personal. In Lesson 2, we see the divine shift from creation-wide dealings to a specific covenant with a man named Abraham—launching the formation of a people, a promise, and a purpose that would eventually lead to Christ. Through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, God shows that His purposes are often fulfilled through unexpected people, painful detours, and sovereign delays. Yet through it all, He remains faithful. These stories ground us in the truth that God is building His story even when we can’t see it—and He’s calling us to walk by faith, not sight.
Lesson 2 – Chapters 2–3 of The Story
Scripture Focus:
- Genesis 12–13; 15–17; 21–22; 32–33; 35; 37; 39; 41–48; 50
- Key Commentary: Romans 4; Hebrews 11
I. God Builds a Nation (Genesis 12–22; 32–35)
A. The Call of Abraham
- After the Tower of Babel, God calls Abram (Gen. 12)
- Promise of land, blessing, and descendants (Gen. 12:2–3; 15:1; 17:6–8)
B. Abraham’s Struggles and God’s Faithfulness
- Hagar and Ishmael (Gen. 16)
- Covenant of Circumcision (Gen. 17)
- Isaac’s birth (Gen. 21)
- Abraham tested (Gen. 22 – The near-sacrifice of Isaac)
C. Israel’s Origins
- Jacob wrestles with God (Gen. 32)
- Name changed to Israel; dysfunctional family dynamics (Leah, Rachel, Esau)
II. Joseph: From Slave to Deputy Pharaoh (Genesis 37–50)
A. Betrayal and Brokenness
- Joseph is favored by Jacob but sold by his brothers (Gen. 37)
- Falsely accused and imprisoned in Egypt (Gen. 39)
B. Providence and Promotion
- Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams (Gen. 41)
- Rises to power and saves Egypt from famine
C. Reconciliation and Restoration
- Joseph forgives his brothers (Gen. 45)
- The family is reunited in Goshen
- Joseph understands God’s sovereignty: “What you meant for evil, God meant for good.” (Gen. 50:20)
III. Application & Takeaways
- God’s promises are bigger than our failures.
- Faith obeys—even when the fulfillment is distant.
- God is at work in the waiting, in the wilderness, and even in Egypt.
- His covenant is everlasting and His hand is sovereign—even through betrayal and suffering.