A Legacy of Faith That Lives On - Treasures of Faith - Week 7 Day 5

TODAY'S TREASURE

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. 

Hebrews 11:22

Transcript

A Legacy of Faith That Lives On

Chuck and Sharon Betters

Today’s Treasure

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. 

Hebrews 11:22

Joseph’s life was one of astonishing ups and downs. He experienced betrayal, slavery, unjust imprisonment, and stunning elevation. Yet the writer of Hebrews doesn’t highlight Joseph’s rise to power or his ability to interpret dreams. Instead, Joseph is remembered for one final act of faith at the end of his life: he spoke of the exodus and asked that his bones be taken with the Israelites when God delivered them from Egypt.

This moment may seem minor compared to the drama of his earlier life, but Hebrews sees it as the culmination of a life grounded in covenant promises. Joseph died believing—not just in the God of his personal story, but in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He remembered the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 15: “Your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own… but I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions.” Joseph clung to that promise even as he took his last breath.

Joseph’s instruction about his bones was not a sentimental gesture. It was a prophetic declaration: “God will come to your aid, and you must carry my bones up from this place.” (Genesis 50:25) He wanted his remains buried in the land of promise, because he knew Egypt was not the final home for God's people. He believed God’s Word, even though the fulfillment would take hundreds of years.

This is legacy faith. It’s the kind of faith that doesn’t demand to see the results, but plants seeds that will bear fruit in generations to come. Reformed theology teaches that God’s covenant promises extend beyond the individual to families and nations. Joseph understood that the God who sustained him in slavery was the same God who would redeem His people in the future.

When Moses led Israel out of Egypt during the Exodus, he made sure to carry Joseph’s bones (Exodus 13:19). And when the Israelites finally entered the Promised Land under Joshua, they buried those bones at Shechem (Joshua 24:32)—in the very land Jacob had given Joseph centuries earlier. God’s promises are not forgotten. Even bones buried in faith are remembered by Him.

We live in a time when legacy is often measured by financial inheritance, career success, or public acclaim. But in God’s economy, legacy is defined by faith passed on. What will your children and grandchildren remember about your faith? What final testimony will you leave behind?

Joseph reminds us that our final words can be among our most powerful. When everything else is stripped away—achievements, possessions, reputation—what remains is our confidence in the promises of God. That’s the kind of legacy that endures.

This also means our lives are not wasted when they seem ordinary. Joseph spent years in silence—no big stage, no recognition. But those quiet years forged the faith that endured to the end. His deathbed declaration was the fruit of decades of trusting God in darkness.

Jesus, too, left a legacy of faith—not just through His words, but through His cross and resurrection. He died believing the Father’s promises, and because of His faithfulness, we live. His empty tomb is the ultimate guarantee that every promise of God will be fulfilled.

When we entrust our lives—and even our death—to God’s promises, we align ourselves with saints like Joseph. We leave a trail of hope for those who come after us.

LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT

Are you thinking about your legacy? Maybe you wonder if your faith is making any lasting impact. Take heart—God does not measure legacy by size, but by faithfulness. A whispered prayer, a Bible opened at the breakfast table, a word of truth spoken into a hurting heart—these are seeds of eternal value.

Ask God to help you live in such a way that your final words—like Joseph’s—point to the faithfulness of the Lord. Let your confidence in God’s promises become a beacon for generations still to come. Your bones may one day lie in the ground, but your faith will not be buried. God remembers.

PRAYER

Faithful God, thank You for the example of Joseph, who trusted Your promises to the very end. Teach me to live today with eternity in view. Help me to leave a legacy of faith that points others to Your unchanging love. Let my life, even in death, bear witness to Your goodness. 

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Adapted from Treasures of Faith by Chuck and Sharon Betters with permission from P&R Publishing

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