Hope for Imperfect Families From the Story of Josephნიმუში

Day 1: Beginning at the End

Scripture reveals that Joseph lived a long life: a hundred and ten years filled with high highs and low lows, providentially stitched together by the presence and power of God. He died surrounded by his brothers and children. Though there are many things worth saying in these moments, Joseph wanted to talk about his promise-keeping God.

Read Genesis 50:22–26. Linger a little longer on verses 24 and 25:

And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”

What do you think Joseph was trying to express?

Perhaps it seems strange to start a Bible reading plan on Joseph’s life with his funeral, but events like this have a way of distilling things down to what is absolutely true. In this snapshot of the end of Joseph’s life, we see what lasts: faith and family. We also see that God-honoring families don’t just happen. They are built, one decision at a time.

Joseph’s legacy wasn’t buried in Egypt. We’re still thinking about it today. And by God’s good plan, your story won’t end with you. As we will see in the days ahead, part of His vision for our families is that they are a means by which His blessings are passed from generation to generation. We have the privilege of cooperating with Him in what He wants to do through our families.

Think about the end of your life. Who do you hope is gathered around you on that day? I doubt you are picturing the faces of your coworkers or social media followers. More likely it’s the man you’ve vowed to love “until death do us part,” the children or grandchildren you adore, or the extended family you’ve spent countless holiday dinners beside. This mental exercise reminds us that family matters. Still, building God-honoring families requires constant Spirit-enabled, flesh-denying, countercultural work.

Spend some time lingering in Psalm 127. As you do, consider the following:

·When others look at my family, I want them to see that God is . . .

·The areas of brokenness in my family I most want to see God redeem are . . .

·I want our family to be known as a family who . . .

Learn more from The Story of Joseph. This reading plan is adapted from The Story of Joseph: How God Can Redeem Imperfect Families, an 8-week Bible study from Erin Davis. Find it at MoodyPublishers.com.