QT 1/28/2026 Gen 50:22–26, How are we living in light of Jesus' return

Genesis 50:22–26 (ESV) —

22 So Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. Joseph lived 110 years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own. 24 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.” 25 Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

 

NOTE: The promise and hope of Joseph, "God will surely visit you," was fulfilled almost 400 years later. We also live with a similar process, and a longer time frame. The second to last verse in the NT is similar to the second to last verse in Genesis. It says,

 

Revelation 22:20 (ESV) — He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

 

We are coming close to five times 400 years since Jesus' death. That is a long time. But the power of God in raising Jesus from the dead before hundreds of people who went to martyr deaths rather than deny, is proof of the story of Jesus. When we look at Jesus, and study Jesus, we know his promise is true. Science has not disproved anything of the gospel. It is interesting to note that a larger percentage of "hard science" (physics, chemistry, math) people believe in God than "soft science" (sociology, psychology, human behavior) people.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I live as if Jesus' return is near?
2. What does it mean or how might it change my life, if for instance we knew Jesus would return this year? I'm not advocating this year, but I would not be surprised by 7-10 years.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray it would not matter how we live if we knew you were coming this year. By that I mean, we are doing exactly what we should be doing if your return was this year, this decade, or next century. If we have to change, then we are not being obedient to our calling.