End of the Beginning
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.†25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.â€
Genesis 50:24-25
Genesis of course is not the end of the Bible. As we leave the first book, God’s people, the children of Abraham are on the one hand in a favourable position. One of them is governor of Egypt and at the right hand of Pharaoh. God has given them wealth and many offspring according to His blessing.
But on the other hand, they aren’t in the land God promised them. In fact, God has told them (Genesis 15) that they will spend 400 years in Egypt and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
It’s a reminder that Genesis is not the end (not that we thought it was). It is simply the first chapter in the story of God’s glorious grace. But how important it must have been to God’s people in Egypt and to later generations to remember.
Whether it’s 400 years in Egypt, 40 years in the wilderness, 10 years under a bad King or 70 years in exile. The thing that has always sustained God’s people is hope. Hope in a promised land. Hope in an end to sin. Hope in seeing God face to face.
We aren’t enslaved like Israel was to Egypt. But we do remain in the wilderness of sin. We are still in a foreign land and the local rulers aren’t on our side. We aren’t being whipped but neither are we free.
But like Israel. Our time will come. The time for God’s people will come. When the work of Christ will reach its inevitable conclusion. That’s the thing to remember. Jesus said “It is finishedâ€. Now we live in the time of waiting. Waiting, in hope because redemption is certain and it is coming.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father that He gives hope to His people. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who is the certainty of our hope because of His finished work. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others put your hope in Him.
Genesis 50:24-25
Genesis of course is not the end of the Bible. As we leave the first book, God’s people, the children of Abraham are on the one hand in a favourable position. One of them is governor of Egypt and at the right hand of Pharaoh. God has given them wealth and many offspring according to His blessing.
But on the other hand, they aren’t in the land God promised them. In fact, God has told them (Genesis 15) that they will spend 400 years in Egypt and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there.
It’s a reminder that Genesis is not the end (not that we thought it was). It is simply the first chapter in the story of God’s glorious grace. But how important it must have been to God’s people in Egypt and to later generations to remember.
Whether it’s 400 years in Egypt, 40 years in the wilderness, 10 years under a bad King or 70 years in exile. The thing that has always sustained God’s people is hope. Hope in a promised land. Hope in an end to sin. Hope in seeing God face to face.
We aren’t enslaved like Israel was to Egypt. But we do remain in the wilderness of sin. We are still in a foreign land and the local rulers aren’t on our side. We aren’t being whipped but neither are we free.
But like Israel. Our time will come. The time for God’s people will come. When the work of Christ will reach its inevitable conclusion. That’s the thing to remember. Jesus said “It is finishedâ€. Now we live in the time of waiting. Waiting, in hope because redemption is certain and it is coming.
For Today:
- What have you found helpful about Genesis?
- Do you live in hope because of Jesus?
- How could you deepen your hope in Christ this week?
Pray:
Praise the Father that He gives hope to His people. Give thanks for Jesus Christ who is the certainty of our hope because of His finished work. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help you and others put your hope in Him.
Posted in Genesis
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