Most inspirational Old Testament stories

I love the story of Ruth and her faithfulness and devotion to her mother-in-law, and how ultimately she is richly blessed.

I think the story of Judge Deborah is fascinating as well.

I've never heard of Judge Deborah, have you a bible reference please?

Deborah, the Prophetess and Judge's story can be found in Judges Ch 4-5.

Genesis Chapter 37 onwards.

Reading the unfolding story of Joseph in Egypt, I find I am blown away every time! This has all the ingredients of the best story ever , full of twists and turns of fate, faith, love, forgiveness. I found myself in tears at the character of Joseph. Definitely one of my favourite stories of the old testament.
What is your favourite, or one of them at least, that you could read again and again to find new layers of inspiration?

JESUS is in the story of Joseph. He is everywhere on the page!
—Joseph was the BELOVED SON of his father.
—Joseph was attacked by his jealous kinsmen.
—They plotted to kill him.
—Joseph’s release was sought by the oldest (highest) in command
—Joseph was sold for pieces of silver.
—an animal was sacrificed and the blood“offered to his father
—He traveled to Egypt to escape death.
—He was TEMPTED in the flesh but overcame
—He met the baker (BREAD) and the butler (Wine) (instituted the Lord’s supper)
—One was killed and one was saved. (The 2 thieves on the cross)
—He was “washed” and “clothed” when he left prison. (Jesus wrapped in linen.)
—He went before Pharoah (Jesus went to God)
—He was elevated to 2nd in command.
—He carried a message of life and preservation to the people
—all bowed down to him.
—The nation is blessed by his “bread.”
—He was sent by God to preserve life.
—He forgave the ones who wronged him.
—He was a “ruler”
—He was a “savior.”
The old Testament is a “SHADOW” of things to come.

On a tangent, rather moving away from my own topic, I am reading Acts, New Testament. I am just blown away at the sheer change in the disciples. From simple fisherman to eloquent speakers filled with the Holy Spirit, able to argue and make speeches. I just love it! It's not the first time anyone ever expressed this but I just have to. I just love the Bible, best book in the world!

That is amazing, I never saw all that.

Yes, it is; and you learn new things everytime you read it. It’s like peeling an onion— there are “layers” of understanding.
While you are reading Acrs, be looking for how people were saved in the first century. Acts has many examples of conversions in it. They all basically did the same thing although some things may have been emphasized more than others. For example, in Acts 2, when those Jews asked ‘ what must we do?” They already knew and believed in God the Father, and it was evident by their question that they now believed in Jesus, so Peter started from there and said”Repent and be baptized …for the remission of sins…”. He didn’t need to start with “faith.” Because he knew they believed. On the other hand, when the Philippians jailer asked, “what must I do to be saved?” Acts 10, Paul started with “believe”. Because this man was a Roman gentile who likely did not believe in the true God and may have never heard of Jesus. As you read the rest of the story, you learn that Paul “spoke the word of the Lord to him.” In other words, Paul taught him about Jesus, and he must have taught him what to do to be saved because he was baptized the same hour of the night. How else would he have known about baptism? So the converts are not doing different things—they are just starting in different places to do the same thing; which is what Jesus said in Mark 16:16–“He that believes and is baptized shall be saved.” They are all believing and being baptized. I love how the Bible “fits” together with no contradictions. All passages support all other passages. One of the proofs that it is divinely inspired.
The Bible was written by 40 different men.
—over a period of 1500 years.
—in 3 different languages (Jewish, Greek,
Aramaic.)
—from 3 continents
And all with the same message and without contradictions!

It is, according to one of my teachers, where the expression, "well daaa-gone" originated

Hello @MaryM, a short OT book that comes to mind next is Esther. God's presence can be seen and felt clearly throughout the pages of the entire Book, even though (if memory serves) He is never mentioned in it directly (whether by reference or by Name), not even once.

I also believe that fact is unique to Book of Esther, just FYI.

~Deuteronomy (David)