Max Lucado - The Story for Children, a Storybook Bible

THE STORY
FOR CHILDREN

A STORYBOOK BIBLE

Written by
MAX LUCADO, RANDY FRAZEE, AND KAREN DAVIS HILL

Illustrated by
FAUSTO BIANCHI

For our grandchildren

Write these things for the future so that people
who are not yet born will praise the Lord.

Psalm 102:18 (NCV)

-The Authors

A word from the authors

When our children are young, we secure them with seat belts and snap them into swim vests. We schedule regular checkups, show them how to floss, and make sure they get plenty of rest. We teach them right from wrong, urge caution when crossing the street. Our job? Their safety and well-being. We want our children to live healthy, full lives.

When it comes to our childrens eternal lives, we guide them to the anchor of our faith: Gods Word. We fill their young spirits with the stories of old: faithful Abraham, courageous Daniel, lyrical David, obedient Mary.

We do what generations of parents before us have done: pass down to our children the legacy of Gods Holy Word. In this collection of great Bible stories, we continue that tradition, while adding some interpretive thoughts to help children grasp Gods grand plan for their own lives. Our goal? To show that each one of us has a unique place in a much larger story. We want your children to see that Scripture is more than a collection of fascinating characters, thrilling adventures, and dramatic encounters. We want them to accept Gods purpose in creating them, his desire to reunite with them, and his incomparable, amazing love for them.

Our prayer is that these stories will compel your childs fascination with Scripture, lay a foundation for a life of faith, and remind them: The word of God is living and active Hebrews 4:12 (NIrV).

In the meantime, keep buckling, snapping, flossing and most of all keep praying for the little souls in your care.

Table of Contents

In the beginning,
God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:1

B efore there was anything, there
was God. God is the main character
at the center of our entire story.
And in the beginning, God had a
vision-a great and grand and glorious
vision for creating heaven and earth
and much, much more.

With sweeping brush strokes, God painted his creation across the emptiness.

Let there be light, he called into the darkness, and a sweep of brightness blazed across the blank canvas. He called the light day, and the darkness he called night. That was day one.

On day two, God called out into the light, Let there be space between the water above and the water below. He called this big blue area sky.

Let the water gather in one place so land will appear, God commanded on day three. And it was so.

Then God said, Let the land produce plants and trees bearing fruit. And the sweet smell of lilacs and apple blossoms filled the air.

On day four, God said, Let the sun shine on the earth to mark the day, and let the moon and the sparkling stars mark the night. And it happened.

Then, on day five, God said, Let creatures fill the oceans and rivers, the lakes and the streams. Let birds fly high in the sky. And sunfish and porpoises splashed in the waves, while eagles and robins soared above them.

On the sixth day, God said, Let living creatures roam the earth. And animals of every shape and size and color appeared.

Then God stepped back, pleased with his creation. And it was all very good.

But something was missing. God made the earth, the sky, and everything in it, but this was not Gods entire plan. He was not finished. The best was yet to come.

On this same day, God did his finest work. He created people in his own image. God created a man named Adam and a woman named Eve. He now had a part of creation that he could have a close and loving relationship with.

Then God stepped back, took a look, and said, This is very, very good!

Gods Message

You are my
greatest creation.

Looking at you is
better than looking
at an ocean view.

Watching you run and
play is better than
watching beautiful
animals dart across
the African plain.

Seeing a smile on
your face is better
than seeing a sunrise.

You are my pride and joy.

Life in Gods beautiful garden was off to a great start. Adam and Eve made themselves right at home hiking trails, splashing in clear streams, and racing across green fields.

Adam and Eve spent their days watching the animals romping and roaming around their new playground and spent cool evenings counting stars. At bedtime, they drifted into dreams as larks sang them to sleep.

Life was good in Gods perfect world.

The food in Gods garden was plentiful. After all the hiking, swimming, and climbing, Adam and Eve were hungry. God showed them the delicious buffet awaiting them: crispy-sweet carrots, mouth-watering mangoes, crunchy nuts, and plump berries.

But when Adam reached for the fruit in the center of the garden, God spoke up. Anything but that one, Adam. That fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil is not for you to eat.

So Adam and Eve obeyed for a while. But one day, a sneaky snake enticed Eve to try the forbidden fruit. Try this-its the best in the garden! One little bite wont hurt. So Eve plucked a piece and took a bite, then gave some to Adam.

When God found Adam and Eve hiding in the bushes, he knew they had disobeyed.

I will always love you, God said. But since you disobeyed me, you cannot live in this beautiful garden anymore.

Adam and Eve were sorry they could no longer be with God in his garden. They left with heavy hearts. But they were thankful they had not lost the most important thing of all-their heavenly Fathers love.

Gods Message

My heart aches knowing
that we are separated by sin.
But I will always love you.

I long for our talks
in the cool of the evening.

I dream of our walks
together in the garden.

We are separated now,
but we wont be apart forever.

I promise one day we
will be close again.