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Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives: Rediscovering Some Old Testament Characters

Do you want to be famous? Many people would answer that question without hesitation—yes! But God does some of His most significant work through His forgotten few.

In this series, Chuck Swindoll reveals the crucial roles played by a number of lesser-known Old Testament characters. From Achan to Uzziah and through incredible victories and destructive defeats, God’s sovereignty shines through these lives.

Fascinating Stories of Forgotten Lives reminds us that God loves to use unknown men and women—like you and me—to make His glory known!

Messages in this Series

Often-Overlooked Lives of Significance

Date: 
January 5-6, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
2 Samuel 231 Chronicles 11-12
Topic:
Somewhere back in time, you and I were given a faulty set of instructions. Somewhere we learned that only the most famous or the star athlete or the most publicly gifted individual is worth our time and attention, our respect and our loudest applause. But in reality, if it wasn’t for the people who surround them, these well-known individuals would quickly fade in popularity and become among the most commonplace.

Cain: The Farmer Who Murdered His Brother

Date: 
January 7-8, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
Genesis 4:1-15
Topic:
The story of Cain and Abel is tossed around rather generally in both Christian and non-Christian circles. Many folks are aware of the big picture aspect of the account—namely, that the older brother murdered the younger—but beyond that, little is known and even less is applied to everyday life. But woven within and between the lines of this amazing story are several insights that await our discovery.

Abraham: The Father Who Released His Son

Date: 
January 9-12, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
Genesis 22:1-14
Topic:
Letting go is always difficult. And the closer we are to the thing (or person) being released, the more difficult it is to let go. We must hold everything loosely. Some of the most poignant examples of letting go come in the context of parent-child relationships. Upon receiving God’s command to offer his son as a sacrifice, Abraham let Isaac go and obeyed without resistance, illustrating his allegiance to God above all.

Esau: The Son Who Couldn’t Win

Date: 
January 26-28, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
Genesis 25:20-34, 26:34-35, 27:5-46, 28:1-9Romans 15:4
Topic:
Though a twin, he was quite the opposite of his younger brother and ultimately became the heartache of the family. Ripped off by his brother and rejected by his family, he couldn’t win, no matter how hard he tried. As we shall soon discover, the Bible pulls no punches. And you may find several places in this story where you can identify with Esau, “the son who couldn’t win.”

Achan: The Man Whose Sin Brought Calamity

Date: 
January 29-30, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
Joshua 7
Topic:
Two things make Achan’s story especially sad. First, it occurred so suddenly on the heels of an incredible victory—the miraculous invasion of Jericho. And second, it resulted in a devastating toll on so many others. One man—a single, isolated individual—deliberately chose to disobey, yet numerous innocent victims fell in the wake of his sin, bringing calamity to a nation.

Saul: The King Who Refused to Bow

Date: 
February 4-6, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
1 Samuel 13-15
Topic:
When Saul became king, he was “little in his own eyes” (see 1 Sam. 15:17), but some time later all that changed drastically. The erosion of his character left him proud, impatient, and downright rebellious…a man who refused to bow even to the Lord his God. A serious failure and well worth our attention.

Abigail: The Woman Who Saved Her Husband’s Neck

Date: 
February 9-10, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
1 Samuel 25
Topic:
The story we discover recorded in 1 Samuel 25 is amazing—change a few particulars, the geography, and the date, and we find ourselves reenacting a series of events as modern as today’s news. It is the story of an unfair boss, a strained marriage, and a great-hearted woman whose act of unselfish bravery saved her husband’s neck! Its fairy tale ending makes the story one of the most memorable in all the Old Testament.

Absalom: The Rebel Prince Charming

Date: 
February 11-13, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
2 Samuel 12:7-25
Topic:
Family feuds, wayward kids, parent-child clashes, husband-wife disagreements, and other in-house pressures have a way of breaking our spirits and stealing our joy. And no one is immune who compromises with God’s standard—not even a king such as David. In this study we witness the monarch’s misery as the sword of consequences falls on him and his family.

Jabez: The Unknown Who Became Well Known

Date: 
February 18-19, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Topic:
Jabez emerges in the midst of epitaphs on tombstones as the Spirit of God is pleased to hover over his life a bit longer than any other mentioned in this context. Because God singles out Jabez, we are wise to pause and learn the truth of the story. By doing so, many who feel their lives are marked by obscurity and insignificance can gain fresh courage to excel.

Naaman: The Officer Whose Leprosy Was Cleansed

Date: 
February 20-23, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
2 Kings 5:1-14
Topic:
Though not strong in faith, Naaman was nevertheless greatly respected as a leader of troops and as a military warrior. One day all that was put on hold. None of his trophies seemed important any longer. He was unclean…he had become a leper. This is a story about a man, once proud and self-sufficient, finally humbling himself before the only One who could cleanse his leprosy…and did.

Gehazi: The Servant Who Got Greedy

Date: 
February 24-25, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
2 Kings 5:15-27
Topic:
Deep in the heart of Elisha’s helper, Gehazi, were smoldering embers of greed. Silently, secretively, they remained hidden. No one could tell by looking. Words never passed from Gehazi’s mouth, admitting such sin, but it was there nevertheless. Through a series of events those embers burst into full flame. As we recount the story, we want to take sufficient time to examine our own hearts and determine if we suffer from a similar malady.

Uzziah: The Leader Who Became a Loser

Date: 
February 26-March 2, 2026
Series:
Scripture: 
2 Chronicles 26:1-21
Topic:
Tragically, King Uzziah didn’t learn well enough what it meant to fear and worship God. He had a good start. He walked humbly with God, pursued the disciplines of godly living, and sought wise counsel. But when he achieved military prowess and gained notoriety, his heart became proud. He built monuments to himself. Then his fear of God waned, and he sinned against Him. And Uzziah’s sin had lifelong consequences.