There are so many subjects, situations, and lessons that we can gather from the book of Genesis. In the closing chapters of the book, here are some things that stood out to me.
The family situations from Abraham on down to Joseph were complicated at best. Sometimes in our aerial view of these people in the book of Genesis, we have a tendency to think that there was perfect faith and obedience while serving God. However, when we look at the details of these people and their relationships with God and man, we see that it is God that is 100% faithful to his people and that His people are the ones who waiver in their faith here and there.
But we don’t see every detail. We don’t see the details in where someone who has done wrong specifically asks for forgiveness from God for those wrongdoings. That doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. We don’t see the sleepless nights that Joseph’s brothers had because of what they did in their anger and how they toiled in their lives trying to make amends. We don’t see when Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac had multiple wives that they apologized for doing so. There are a lot of unknowns that we don’t see.
One thing is clear though, God was faithful to Abraham and his descendants in what He promised them. God still blessed even though their faith was not 100%. God still spoke to them even though their faith was not 100%. God’s purpose was being fulfilled even though His people got in the way.
I’m not saying here that we have excuses to not be 100% faithful to God in our lives. I’m saying that when we look at these families and these personal relationships with God, we can be encouraged that even though we may fail at our faith and disappoint God and our fellow man, there is hope for us. God still loves us and God still wants to take care of us. God wants us to live a fulfilling life dedicated to Him. But we have to choose on whether we want that or not.
#genesis