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What is one thing you would like to be remembered for? Share about it.

Do you consider yourself as an influencer? Why or why not?

Are you usually perceived as someone who is reliable with tasks entrusted to you? Why or why not?

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By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. HEBREWS 11:22

Joseph was at the end of his life when he gave the directions to the Israelites about bringing his bones with them. This act of Joseph displayed his great faith: faith that the promises of God to the Israelites would be fulfilled, even beyond his lifetime.

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Faith in God’s Promises for the Next Generation

By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. HEBREWS 11:22

(Read also GENESIS 50:24-26.)

Joseph, when giving the Israelites instructions about his bones, mentioned the land that God had promised them. This land was a multigenerational promise, one God had made to the Israelite forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 50:24). Joseph had faith that this was also the promise of God to the generations after him, even though he would not see the fulfillment of the promise himself. This promise was beyond lifetimes, and would be passed on to the next generation. As evidence of this faith, he even asked the Israelites to bring his bones with them when the promise was fulfilled. What things are you believing for that go beyond your lifetime?

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Faith in God's Promises through the Next Generation

By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. HEBREWS 11:22

By entrusting his bones to them, Joseph showed his faith that the next generation of Israelites would carry on believing and claiming the promise that God had made to them, just as he was doing, and just as their forefathers had done. This did not depend on whether or not they would see the fulfillment of the promise, but on the faithfulness of God who had made the promise. Do you trust the next generation to carry on the visions and promises that God has given to you?

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Do you believe that you must put your faith in God alone?Have you received Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If not, would you be willing to pray that prayer today?

Does your faith in God’s promises go beyond your lifetime?As you seek God daily, write down and commit to pray for the promises of God that you want to claim not just for yourself, but for the next generation as well.

Do you trust the next generation to carry on the visions and promises that God has given to you? What are some ways that you can relay the visions and the promises of God to the next generation?

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Thank God for the promises that He gives us, that go even beyond our lifetimes. Thank Him being faithful to His promises.

Ask God for the kind of faith that goes beyond your lifetime. Pray that you will trust the generation after you to hold on to God’s promises today.

Pray for your family and friends, whether there are promises of God that they need to claim and hold on to. Pray that God will develop in them this kind of radical faith.

© 2018 by VICTORY®
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Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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