Daily PresenceSample

Growing up my grandpa was my hero. When he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's I was devastated. After we moved him into a care facility, my grandma invited me over to go through some of his stuff in his office. Little did I know the treasures I would find in the form of hundreds of 3x5 note cards in shoeboxes with Scriptures, exhortations, and spiritual insights scratched all over them with perfect cursive writing. In moments of uncertainty or unrest, I’ll look to those cards to remind me of the faith my grandpa led his family with.

As Joseph’s life is coming to an end, he reassures his brothers, encourages the children of Israel with God’s promises, and then drops a notecard in a box for them in Genesis 50:25, “Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, “When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.”

Little did the sons of Israel know that they were about to experience oppression, slavery, captivity, wandering, loneliness, hunger, thirst, and danger from all sides. The hardest years of their life were coming. Yet Joseph, in faith, reminded them of the promise God made to lead them out of Egypt and then told them when that day comes, make sure you take me with you.

Just like my grandpa’s notecards and Joseph’s bones, God has given us His word to carry with us as a reminder of His promises, even when the days can seem unbearable. I love knowing that Joseph’s bones made it to the promised land. I love knowing God came through on His promises. I love that rainbows are promises of God’s future protection. I love being able to open the Bible and see God’s grace.

God’s past faithfulness is a downpayment on His future promises. He’s going to come through. He’s with you, even on the worst days. And His plan is to take you to where you desire to go. Bring the bones with you – God is working!