The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
Genesis 47-50
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 1: The People: God calls a covenant people
Background Information: Genesis 47-50
These chapters are full of God’s faithfulness and human faith. The blessings and “curses” Jacob gave to his sons would play out in detail in the coming generations. This was not because of his words, but rather his words were given to him by God because God knew what was to come. Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s younger over his older son had echoes of his own past. Jacob had schemed about (rather than trusted God with) his own future, and it had proven costly. Now this treachery was gone from his heart; suffering and time had taken it away. The writer of Hebrews saw this blessing as an act of great faith. Jacob was dying, but his faith was not. He blessed his grandsons as an act of faith in God’s promises. Years later, as Joseph was in his last days, he too would demonstrate his faith in the promises of God. He asked that his bones be returned to Canaan and not remain in Egypt. He saw in his long life the purposes of God even in his suffering. He told his fearful brothers that what they had meant for evil, God had used for good. Genesis ends far from Eden with a sign of Eden’s curse: Joseph is dead in a coffin. But even in that cursed coffin was the hope of God’s covenant promises. Hundreds of years later Moses would take Joseph’s bones back to the land of promise. “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff., By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.” Hebrews 11:21,22
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Ask God for guidance and encouragement for the Christian Challenge leaders as they meet this morning to prepare for the semester.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.