Heavenly Father loves His children. He sent Jesus Christ, or Jehovah, to teach them. The Old Testament contains the stories of these teachings to His ancient people, called the Israelites.

About the Old Testament

Heavenly Father presented the plan of salvation in heaven. Jesus Christ created the earth, where God’s children would receive a physical body and learn to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Creation of the Earth

Adam and Eve were the first people to live on earth. In the Garden of Eden, they chose to eat the forbidden fruit and were separated from God. He had a plan for their redemption through Jesus Christ.

Adam and Eve

After Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, they had many children and taught them about the Lord. Abel was a son who loved the Lord. Cain was a son who chose to rebel. They had freedom to choose.

Adam and Eve’s Family

Jesus Christ asked Enoch to tell the people to repent. Enoch feared the people. The Lord strengthened and protected him. Eventually, all the people repented. The Lord took them to live with Him.

Enoch the Prophet

The Lord told Noah a flood would cover the earth if the people did not repent. Noah built an ark, where his family loaded two animals of every kind. A flood covered the earth, but they were safe.

Noah and His Family

After the flood, some people began to disobey God and started to build a tower to get to heaven. God was not happy and changed their language to stop the work. God scattered the people over the earth.

The Tower of Babel

Abraham and Sarah were commanded to leave Ur. They were promised they would have a child. The Lord covenanted with Abraham. He received the priesthood from Melchizedek.

Abraham and Sarah

Hagar was Sarah’s servant. Sarah was old and had no children. She told Abraham to marry Hagar. Abraham married Hagar. Soon Hagar had a baby named Ishmael. The Lord was watching over her.

Hagar

Abraham and Sarah named their baby Isaac. Through him their family would bless the earth. The Lord told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac on an altar. He obeyed. An angel stopped him from sacrificing Isaac.

Abraham and Isaac

Isaac and Rebekah had twin boys, Jacob and Esau. Esau traded his birthright to Jacob for food. When it came time for Isaac to give the blessing, Jacob dressed like Esau and received the birthright.

Jacob and Esau

Jacob fell in love with a righteous woman named Rachel. He worked for her father for seven years to marry Rachel but was tricked. He agreed to work another seven years. Jacob becomes Father Israel.

Jacob and His Family

Joseph was born to Rachel and Jacob. He was Jacob’s favorite son. Jacob gave Joseph a special coat. Joseph’s 10 brothers were jealous. They sold Joseph to travelers who took him to Egypt.

Joseph’s Inspired Dreams

Joseph was sold as a slave to Potiphar. Potiphar’s wife liked Joseph. He would not break the commandments with her. Joseph was sent to prison. Joseph interpreted the Pharaoh’s dreams.

Joseph in Egypt

Jacob’s family was hungry because of a famine. He sent his sons to Egypt to buy food. Joseph had become a great leader in Egypt. Joseph challenged his brothers and learned they had changed.

Joseph and the Famine

To save her baby from being killed by the Pharaoh, Jochebed hid her baby in a basket by the Nile River. The Pharaoh’s daughter found the basket. She named him Moses and paid Jochebed to care for him.

Baby Moses

Moses grew up as a son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian. Here the Lord appeared to Moses in a burning bush and told him to return to Egypt to free the Israelites.

Moses the Prophet

Moses asked the Pharaoh to let the Israelites be free and leave Egypt. Pharaoh refused. The Egyptians were cursed with nine terrible plagues. The Lord told Moses another terrible plague would come.

The Plagues of Egypt

The Lord sent a final plague. The Pharaoh’s oldest son died. The plague passed over each home with lamb’s blood on the doorframe. Pharaoh let the Israelites go. Moses parted the Red Sea.

The Passover

Soon after the Israelites left Egypt, they complained that they did not have enough food. To teach the Israelites to trust Him, the Lord sent bread from heaven for them to pick up each day.

The Israelites in the Wilderness

Moses climbed Mount Sinai to speak to the Lord. The Lord wrote His commandments on stone tablets with His finger. Moses destroyed the tablets and the golden calf. The Lord gave the Ten Commandments.

Moses on Mount Sinai

The Lord sent serpents to help the Israelites remember Him. Many died. Moses made a brass serpent and attached it to a pole. When the people looked at the brass serpent, the Lord saved them. 

Moses and the Brass Serpent

The Lord called Joshua to be the new prophet. It was time to move to the promised land. The Lord told Joshua to be strong and have courage. The Lord helped the Israelites conquer Canaan.

Joshua the Prophet

Rahab lived in Jericho. She knew the Lord would help the Israelites fight against her wicked city. Spies sent by Joshua were discovered. Rahab agreed to protect them. Her courage saved her family.

Rahab and the Spies

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Old Testament Stories