Series Details
Have you ever faced a trial that was so surprising, unprecedented, and intense that you had no idea how God would take you through . . . but He did? Such severe trials don’t happen every day, thankfully. But they are exceedingly significant, epochal, we might say, because they reveal God’s power in ways we otherwise would not have seen.
In this series, Chuck Swindoll examines epochal events in the lives of Abraham, Joseph, David, and Elijah. Each event included an extreme test that stretched the person’s faith and then culminated in an epochal moment—a saving act of God designed to inspire us to trust Him during our own seemingly impossible circumstances.
Message 1: An Aging Father and His Son
- Overview: This message explores the ultimate test of faith faced by Abraham when God commanded him to sacrifice his long-awaited heir, Isaac. It examines the tension between God’s promises and His commands, highlighting Abraham’s unwavering obedience and God’s timely intervention.
- Key Facts:
- Abraham waited 25 years for the birth of Isaac.
- The event took place on Mount Moriah.
- The “epochal” moment occurred when God provided a ram as a substitute, foreshadowing the sacrifice of Christ.
- Scripture Reference: Genesis 22:1–14
Message 2: An Abused Man and His Brothers
- Overview: Chuck Swindoll delves into the life of Joseph, focusing on the traumatic betrayal by his brothers and his subsequent years of suffering and imprisonment in Egypt. The message highlights how God uses unexpected and painful events to position His servants for a greater purpose.
- Key Facts:
- Joseph was sold into slavery by his own siblings and later falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife.
- Despite years of obscurity, Joseph rose to become second-in-command of Egypt.
- The series emphasizes that what man intended for evil, God intended for good to save many lives.
- Scripture Reference: Genesis 37; Genesis 50:15–21
Message 3: A Brave Teenager and a Giant
- Overview: This summary covers the iconic confrontation between the young shepherd David and the Philistine champion, Goliath. It focuses on the internal faith that allowed a teenager to face a physical threat that terrified an entire army, proving that the battle belongs to the Lord.
- Key Facts:
- Goliath stood over nine feet tall and defied the armies of Israel for 40 days.
- David refused King Saul’s armor, choosing instead five smooth stones and his sling.
- This epochal victory shifted the trajectory of David’s life from a shepherd boy to a national hero and future king.
- Scripture Reference: 1 Samuel 17:1–51
Message 4: A Sad Prophet and a Bad Queen
- Overview: This message looks at the intense spiritual and emotional exhaustion of the prophet Elijah. Following his great victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah fled in fear from the threats of Queen Jezebel, falling into a deep state of depression and isolation.
- Key Facts:
- Queen Jezebel vowed to kill Elijah, prompting him to flee to the wilderness of Beersheba.
- Elijah experienced “burnout” and requested that he might die.
- God met Elijah not in the wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a “gentle whisper,” providing him with rest, food, and a new commission.
- Scripture Reference: 1 Kings 19:1–18
