Read GENESIS 43

Hunger is one of the most basic, powerful drives of the human body. Without food, there is no life. As a result, hunger can lead people to do things we would not normally do. Such was the case with Jacob.

As the famine continued and food ran out, Jacob called for his sons to return to Egypt for supplies. His sons, however, reminded him of problem— Benjamin must go with them! Fearing the loss of another son, Jacob resisted; but finally hunger, and a pledge by Judah, prevailed. Gathering gifts along with double money to repay the earlier mistake, Jacob sent off Benjamin and his other sons to Egypt. His final prayer put the whole affair into the merciful hands of God.

In the narrative that follows we begin to see the outworking of that mercy upon the brothers. When they arrived in Egypt, Joseph ordered them to his house. The brothers feared punishment for the money found earlier, but the steward assured them all was well. The initial answer to Jacob’s prayer for mercy was coming true—water for washing, food for donkeys, Simeon restored, Joseph (still unknown to them) speaking well to them, and a feast from the royal table. God Himself is named as the source of blessing: “Your God, the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks” (v. 23). In these troubling times, God’s mercy shone forth.

There is more here than just mercy; God’s faithfulness to Joseph is also implied. Back in Genesis 37, Joseph had twice dreamed that his family would bow before him. Now, in fulfillment of that dream, when Joseph entered the house the brothers “bowed down before him to the ground” (v. 26), and then later bowed down again in verse 28. God’s mercy and faithfulness are on display.

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Joseph waited decades before the fulfillment of his youthful dream. At many points, it seemed that being in a position of authority in his family was the most unlikely scenario imaginable. If you are waiting for God to answer your prayers, remember that He is faithful even when He seems silent. His mercy and compassion for you remain sure.

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Read GENESIS 40

Two lost hikers huddled together, cold and hungry, waiting for rescue. Soon, a low-flying helicopter came into view. The hikers leaped up with joy, shouting and waving their arms. But the aircraft flew past without slowing. The hopeful moment of rescue was gone.

Joseph experienced a glimmer of hope for release from prison, which seemed to end badly. Scripture tells us that two of Pharaoh’s officers, having angered the king, were sent to the very prison where Joseph was held. One night both the cupbearer and baker were troubled by disturbing dreams. Joseph offered help, but not on his own. Notice Joseph’s continued faith in God through his words: “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams” (v. 8).

In turn each of the officers reported the details of his dream, and Joseph gave their meanings: in three days, the baker would be hanged and the cupbearer would be restored to Pharaoh’s court. Just as Joseph said, after three days the Pharaoh had the baker put to death but restored the cupbearer to his service. This was Joseph’s chance for release! His only request was for the cupbearer to tell the king about Joseph so that he might be freed from his wrongful imprisonment. The chapter ends, however, on a dejected note: “The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him” (v. 23).

Joseph may very well have felt that God, not just the cupbearer, had forgotten him too. Despite his continued profession of God’s presence in his life, Joseph’s sorrowful circumstances remained. Others’ dreams were coming true, but what about the dreams of Joseph’s youth (Genesis 37)? Where was God and His promises of old? Had God forgotten? The ending of our chapter intentionally leaves us to ponder these questions.

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Do we sometimes feel forgotten by God in the face of the brokenness of our world? Today’s chapter demonstrates that God’s hiddenness does not mean He is absent or forgetful of His people. Let your worship this Sunday renew your trust in our God who does not forsake His people, even when we cannot always see His hand at work.

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Read GENESIS 30:25–31:55

One classic feature of comic books is that the superhero always has an arch enemy, a nemesis who presents a constant challenge. Time and again the plots of such stories are driven by the tension and suspense produced by these two characters vying for the upper hand.

If Jacob is the main protagonist in today’s reading, Laban was his nemesis, and they each struggled to gain the advantage over the other. Jacob complained of ongoing mistreatment by Laban. He had changed Jacob’s wages multiple times and profited greatly at Jacob’s expense. After their agreement about speckled flocks, Laban immedi- ately tried to cheat Jacob at the outset (30:35–36). When Jacob tried to leave secretly, Laban quickly caught up to him and demanded a treaty. Clearly, neither man trusted the other. The treaty simply determined boundaries for keeping away from each other.

By the end of our reading, Jacob had gained the upper hand. He not only escaped a conniving uncle but he also departed with an abundance of children and wealth. Scripture tells us that Jacob “grew exceedingly prosperous and came to own large flocks, and female and male servants, and camels and donkeys” (30:43). But don’t miss the clear reason for Jacob’s blessing. Even Jacob recognized that it was God’s hand behind it all. When speaking with his wives, he explicitly identified God’s protection and blessing: “God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me” (31:9). When speaking with Laban, Jacob recognized that without God’s help, he would be empty-handed.

The God who had met Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28) had kept His promise of presence and protection. Now that same God was calling Jacob back to the Promised Land. We begin to see Jacob’s growing faith by his intent to obey.

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Jacob’s life is the reminder that every blessing we have comes from God. Consider your life today and identify the many blessings you experience, whether health, employment, family, or provisions. Place that list before the Lord and give Him thanks for these good gifts which He has bestowed upon you, asking for wisdom to use those gifts as a blessing to others.

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Read GENESIS 29:1–30

Pranksters love playing practical jokes on other people—and there is an ironic humor in seeing the trickster tricked by someone else. Today’s reading portrays such an irony as the trickster Jacob met his match in Uncle Laban.

As the story opens, things seemed to be moving positively for Jacob. He had just received God’s promise of presence and protection, and soon arrived at a well. There, after learning from shepherds that his Uncle Laban was nearby, his cousin Rachel showed up! Jumping into action, Jacob removed the large stone from the well and watered Rachel’s flock.

After revealing his kinship to Rachel, Jacob’s good fortune seemed to continue. When Laban heard the news, he embraced Jacob with words of joyful welcome, “You are my own flesh and blood” (v. 14), and allowed Jacob to remain in his home. Not only had Jacob met with the safety of family, but the beautiful Rachel was promised in marriage in return for Jacob’s labor. It would seem that Jacob had indeed escaped the danger of Esau back home.

But then things took a turn for the worse. Laban’s own character proved to be as duplicitous as Jacob’s. After the agreed years of labor, on the night of the wedding, Laban switched the older sister Leah for the younger Rachel. Notice the irony of Jacob, the trickster’s response: “Why have you deceived me?” (v. 25). In turn, Laban asserted their custom of not having the younger child upstage the older—another ironic jab at Jacob’s own deception for those who know how Jacob secured God’s blessing. In the end, Jacob would get more wives than he bargained for, at a greater cost than he planned. It might seem at this point that God had disappeared from Jacob’s life, but as we will soon see, God never abandons His word once given.

APPLY THE WORD

Jacob’s actions remind us that trusting in our own plans, resources, and ingenuity will not bring about the promises God intends for us. He alone can bring true blessing. In what areas of your life are you trusting more in your own efforts than in God’s leading? Give those aspects of your life over to God, asking Him for the faith to trust Him fully.

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Read GENESIS 24

Transitions can be difficult, whether it’s a move to a new home, life after the death of a loved one, or the transfer of the family business. Today’s Scripture presents a challenging transition for Abraham and Isaac.

In the previous chapter Abraham’s wife, Sarah, had died, and now the challenge was clear. Isaac needed a wife from his own people who would be willing to come to Canaan. Without a wife, the promise of descendants would fail. But if Isaac left Canaan to find a wife elsewhere, God’s promise of the land would be in jeopardy. Abraham understood the situation well, and commissioned his servant to travel back to Haran to find a wife for Isaac.

Details in the unfolding narrative highlight the faithfulness of those involved. Abraham held firm to the promise of both descendants and land. The servant demonstrated faithfulness to Abraham in carrying out his mission, and trust in God through prayer. The text also shows us the virtue of Rebekah through her service and hospitality to Abraham’s servant and her unhesitating obedience to God’s call upon her life.

But underlying the whole story is the faithfulness and providence of God. No amount of human ingenuity could orchestrate the outcome so perfectly. The servant ended up at just the right well, at just the right time. Rebekah appeared out of nowhere in answer to a prayer. Then we discover that she was actually related to the family of Abraham and Isaac! The providential experience of the servant was so remarkable that Scripture relays it twice in one chapter. The servant’s own words capture well the theological point of the chapter: “Praise be to the LORD . . . who has not abandoned His kindness and faithfulness to my master” (24:27).

APPLY THE WORD

What transitions do you or your church face? Is your focus on the coming problems or the faithful providence of the God who provides? In prayer today, hand over to God the fear and uncertainty of change. Ask for a stronger faith in God’s hand, using the words of Abraham’s servant: God does not withhold His love and faithfulness.

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Read GENESIS 17

As an author said, “Impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles.” By Genesis 17, Abram and Sarai surely felt the seemingly impossible odds against the fulfillment of God’s promises to them. Dare they hope for a miracle?

Abram was now ninety-nine years old and still without a child. In the previous chapter he and Sarai had tried to have an heir through her maid, Hagar. But the resulting child, Ishmael, produced strife, not family blessing. Now in today’s reading, twenty-three years after Abram first entered Canaan, God reaffirmed His covenant promises to Abram and Sarai. His word was clear: “I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you” (v. 6). The whole land of Canaan would be their possession, and the covenant would be “an everlasting covenant” (v. 7).

From a human perspective, things seemed impossible. But God’s promises never fail, and now God called Abram to prove his trust in two important ways. First, there would be a name change. Childless Abram would now be called “Abraham” (meaning “father of a multitude”), and Sarai would be called “Sarah” (meaning “princess”—a mother of kings). A change in name meant a change in reality, even if Abraham could not yet see it.

Second, God called Abraham to seal the covenant through the act of circumcision. All males under Abraham’s authority were to receive this sign, for “My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant” (v. 13). Circumcision signified that any who broke the covenant would be “cut off” from God’s blessing. In the end, Abraham’s laughter indicated his doubts. But notice his implicit faith as well: he called Sarah by her new name (v. 17) and then circumcised all males in his household as God commanded.

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Like Abraham’s story, the Christian life is often a journey of faith mixed with doubt. What are the difficulties in your life that threaten your faith? Spend time in prayer today, lifting up those challenges to God. Then ask the Lord to strengthen your faith in His promise of provision and care, even in the face of “impossible odds.”

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Read GENESIS 15

In the ancient Near East, covenants were sometimes sealed by a symbolic ritual. Sacrificial animals were cut in half and each party of the covenant walked between the halved pieces. The meaning was significant: if one of them did not keep their end of the covenant agreement, they should be treated like one of the severed animals.

This cultural background is important. God again reaffirmed His promises to Abram, culminating in a symbolic covenantal ceremony. But first, Abram had questions. In light of God’s promise of protection and reward, Abram wondered who would benefit, given his lack of a son and heir? God’s response was to point Abram to the stars as a symbol of the number of descendants he would have. Abram did not press the point; instead, he “believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness” (v. 6). Genuine questions did not preclude genuine faith.

Next, Abram offered a second question: How will he know that he will possess this land? Once again, God reaffirmed His promise, this time in dramatic fashion. He ordered Abram to obtain sacrificial animals. Abram then cut them in half and placed them on the ground. What happened next was both strange and wonderful. God Himself, represented by a smoking firepot and blazing torch, passed through the severed animal pieces. In doing so, “the LORD made a covenant with Abram” (v. 18).

The message to Abram was clear. His descendants, though facing oppression for a time, would one day possess the land. In fact, the Lord (and not Abram!) undertook the ancient covenantal cere- mony as a sign of His commitment to His promise. In other words, God put His own life on the line for this covenant with Abram!

APPLY THE WORD

Have we really understood the depths of God’s promises to Abram and to us? In fact, God has offered the life of His own Son that we might have life in Him! Find the Charles Wesley hymn “And Can It Be” and, as you sing or listen to it, note the end of the first stanza: “Amazing love! How can it be, / That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?”

PRAY WITH US

Steven Mogck, executive VP and chief operating officer, welcomes your prayers today. Ask the Lord to direct him in all the decisions he makes daily at Moody and to encourage Steven and his teams with His grace and love.

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Read GENESIS 13

“This town ain’t big enough for the both of us,” a line made popular by early Western films, is now a stock phrase used to convey the idea that two people cannot share the same space. It could also describe Abram and Lot in today’s reading.

After returning from Egypt, Abram and Lot had grown so rich in livestock that the land could no longer support them both. As they went their separate ways, Scripture portrays a clear contrast between them. Despite God’s blessings, Lot demonstrated no relationship with the Lord. He chose what appeared to be the best of the land—the well- watered and fertile plain of the Jordan. But there was a problem. The area was inhabited by wicked people who “were sinning greatly against the LORD” (v. 13). This apparently presented no hesitation for Lot who quickly “pitched his tents near Sodom” (v. 12).

Abram’s action, on the other hand, demonstrated his faith. Blessed also by God with abundance, Abram returned to one of his original altars near Bethel and “called on the name of the LORD” (v. 4). Although promised the whole land of Canaan, Abram was not anxious to grasp it all for himself; rather he allowed Lot first choice, in order to avoid strife.

In response, God spoke to Abram again, reaffirming His promises, this time with more details. The promise of land is reiterated, described as all that Abram can see in every direction. God even encouraged Abram to walk throughout the land itself. Second, the promise of descendants was reaffirmed, so numerous that they could be likened to the “dust of the earth” (v. 16). Abram’s response to God’s word was yet another act of worship. Lot chose and lived by sight; Abram by faith.

APPLY THE WORD

What might God be calling you to do in faith this week? Give more generously, even when finances seem tight? Speak Christ’s love to a neighbor even when they seem uninterested? Confess a previous sin even when it seems scary to do so? Ask God for the eyes of faith today, then act in response, trusting God’s promises to provide for all your needs.

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THE CALL OF ABRAM: OUT OF UR

Anyone who has moved knows the stress of packing up, saying goodbye to loved ones, and then transitioning into a new city, neighborhood, and home. It is one thing to move to a new city; how much harder to move to a new country!

The call of Abram was no small thing. It was a radical call to leave country, family, and friends for a foreign land. Earlier, Abram’s family had already moved from Ur to Haran. Now God called Abram to travel hundreds of miles farther to the land of Canaan. This was a time of decision. Abram could remain comfortable in Haran with his own people and customs, or he could take a step of faith in God’s call. God had promised Abram land, descendants, and great blessing—but all of this was still promise, not yet reality.

In fact, Scripture tells us that there were clear threats to God’s promises. Sarai was infertile (11:30) and the land of promise was already occupied. Moreover, a famine soon forced Abram out of the Promised Land into Egypt. There, the promise of descendants was further jeopardized by Pharaoh. Would God’s word hold true?

The early picture of Abram is a mixed one. On the one hand, as Hebrews 11 tells us, Abram was a man of great faith who believed in God’s promises, left his old ways, and embarked on a new journey in response to God’s call, erecting altars and worshiping the Lord as he journeyed (Heb. 11:8–10). Yet Abram was also a man who faltered, particularly in his dealing with Sarai in Egypt. Yet despite Abram’s weak faith at this point, God’s treatment of Pharaoh demonstrates that God was still in control. The promises of God were secure in the Lord’s hands.

APPLY THE WORD

What things might God be calling you to turn from in order that your faithful obedience might bring blessing? Make a list of such activities or habits, and commit to leaving them behind to follow God’s leading. Then ask God to make that choice a blessing for yourself and others.

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Read GENESIS 11

Through Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, many are finding it easier and easier to make themselves known to friends and strangers alike. And with the rise of gated communities and TSA checkpoints at airports, people are desperately seeking to find safety in an uncertain world. Notoriety and security: two things many people seek in life.

The ancient world was no exception. Recall that after the Flood, Noah and his sons were told to multiply and fill the earth. Earlier, Genesis 10 described the partial fulfillment of that command through the genealogies of Noah’s sons. This record shows how the ancient nations came about through the descendants of Japheth, Ham, and Shem. Would these increasing numbers of humanity remain faithful to God?

Unfortunately, as Genesis 11 tells us, they would not. The descendants of Noah settled in one place and then attempted to build a city with a great tower that reached the heavens. Their two-fold reason: “So that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (11:4). They sought for themselves notoriety in the world, and security from the uncertainty of migration. Rather than being content with God’s provision in the world, this post-Flood humanity, like Adam and Eve, attempted to take control of their own lives.

As a result, God put a stop to their designs by confusing their language and scattering them throughout the earth. It would appear that this new generation of mankind would be just as resistant to God’s commands as they were before the Flood. Nevertheless, God did not give up on humanity, for the genealogy at the end of Genesis 11 introduces for us a flicker of hope in a man God would use for His own purposes: Abram.

APPLY THE WORD

How many of us have followed the way of Babel in trying to make a name for ourselves through the way we use social media? For today, decide not to post any photos or updates on these sites, and turn instead to prayer and Scripture memorization. Let the words of 1 Peter 2:9 become the day’s theme, thanking God that your worth depends on belonging to Him.

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Read GENESIS 9

In 1776, the signers of the Declaration of Independence formed a new government around a set of fundamental beliefs: the existence of God, a set of God-given laws of Nature, and certain “self-evident” truths and “inalienable rights” belonging to all.

Our Founding Fathers did not cite Genesis 9, but they could have, for in our reading today God granted humanity both the responsibility of governing the world and protecting the value of human life made in the image of God. Just as God had commanded Adam and Eve, who were made in God’s image, to increase and rule over the earth, after the Flood God commanded Noah and his family to increase, rule, and protect human life made in His image.

But God’s word to Noah was not just about human authority and responsibility. God also issued His own responsibilities and promises in the form of a covenant. In fact, God’s covenant was so important that He mentioned it eight times in nine verses. What did that covenant entail?

First, it was God’s promise to never again destroy the earth with a flood. Second, the sign of the covenant was the “bow” set in the sky. Judgment was over and God’s “weapon” of punishment was put to rest. Third, God’s covenant was not temporary, but an “everlasting” promise for all generations (vv. 12, 16). Despite the sin of Ham to follow (vv. 18–27), and its consequent curses, God would not recant His promises. Finally, this covenant was not just between God and humanity. It included all of creation. God established His covenant with “every living creature” and “all the life of the earth” (vv. 10, 12, 15–17). He called it a covenant “between me and the earth” (v. 13). Nothing was outside the scope of God’s promised love.

APPLY THE WORD

How often do we think about God’s creation as part of His covenant? Find time today to take a walk in the woods or a local park. As you stroll, be attentive to the sights, sounds, and scents of the natural world around you. With all your senses, take in God’s created world in a new way, recognizing that all of this is part of God’s covenantal love.

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Read GENESIS 7—8

In recent times we have seen a number of catastrophic weather events. From the 2004 tsunami in Indonesia, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in 2011, the world has experienced the destructive powers of water. But even these natural disasters do not compare to the Flood of Genesis. Scripture emphasizes the Flood’s utter destruction. Just as God promised to “wipe from the face of the earth every living creature” (7:4), so by the end we are told that every living thing “perished,” “died,” and was “wiped out” (vv. 21–23). Only those with Noah in the ark were spared.

But notice that even this destructive punishment was bringing about a new creation. The parallels with the creation narrative in Genesis 1 are striking. Just as the original lands emerged from the waters covering the earth, so now God re-covered the whole earth with water, from which land emerged. Just as God’s Spirit hovered over the original waters of creation, so now God sent a wind to bring forth land after the flood. Just as God called His original creation to multiply, so after the Flood the inhabitants of the ark were commanded to “be fruitful and increase in number” (8:17). And just as humanity’s original sin brought curses upon themselves and the created order, now after the Flood God promised never again to “curse the ground because of humans” (8:24).

Through the waters of the Flood, God had renewed and restored His creation, purging humanity’s pervasive violence and wickedness from the earth. Scripture’s words in Genesis 8:1 summarize well the central point: “But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark.” God’s punishment often has merciful aims, and even in His judgment, God does not forget His people.

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This Independence Day, when we remember the freedoms Americans enjoy, be reminded also of the true spiritual freedom from sin and death we have in Christ. Just as God brought forth a new creation for Noah and his family, so too for us: “If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17).

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Read GENESIS 6

The world’s population today stands at some seven billion people. Following God’s original command to “be fruitful and increase” (Gen. 1:28), the world is now full of human beings. But as our reading shows, humanity’s original increase suffered from the consequences of the Fall.

Whatever the enigmatic references to “sons of God” and the Nephilim might be (and scholars do not all agree), the underlying point remains clear: with the increase of humanity came an increase in depravity. Scripture explains the extent of human sin: God saw “how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (v. 5). Later, God described the earth as corrupted by the people and “filled with violence” (vv. 12–13). As a result, God “regretted” (literally “was grieved about”) the state in which humanity now lived (v. 6). The joy of God’s creation had now become His sorrow.

In response, God determined to put an end to humanity’s destructive violence with a violent judgment. But notice His underlying mercy and grace, even in judgment. Rather than leave humanity to its destructive end, God would not abandon His original purposes for them to be in a life-giving relationship with Himself. The flood was a means of re- creation, with Noah and the ark being His instruments of that merciful restart.

And so God called Noah, a “righteous man” who “walked faithfully with God” (v. 9), to build an ark of rescue. God made a covenant with Noah, a call of relationship and salvation, for this is God’s way throughout Genesis and throughout the Bible. Despite human sin, God does not abandon us; rather, through His grace and mercy, He calls us into a covenantal, saving relationship.

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Isaiah 49:15–16 aptly summarizes God’s tireless love for us, His unwillingness to give up on us despite our sin. Look up that passage today and copy it on a notecard. Then put it in a prominent place at work, school, or home to remind you throughout the coming week that God’s love and compassion for us are never ending.

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Read Ephesians 2:1–10

A quick perusal of the history of the British royal family in the 18th century reveals some interesting patterns. The heir to the throne was usually married in an arranged union with a German princess. He would have one or more mistresses with whom he’d father children. At least one son, sometimes the heir to the throne, would rebel against the king’s authority. For example, King George II had parents whose marriage dissolved due to their multiple affairs, he himself had several mistresses, and he had a disastrous relationship with both his father and his eldest son.

Children of divorce are more likely to divorce. Children with alcoholic parents are more likely to become addicted to alcohol. Those who have been abused sometimes become abusers. Is there any way out?

The good news is that those who belong to Christ are members of two families. In addition to their natural family, they have been adopted into God’s family. This family is also a kingdom, and those who are joined to Christ come under His dominion. Our passage today vividly describes His power. We have been brought out of death into life! His power is stronger than the power of family dysfunction. We have been freed from guilt and will be an object lesson of God’s kindness for all eternity. All this comes to us as a gift of grace, not determined by our past or our performance.

The New Testament term translated “handiwork” in verse 10 means God is intimately, personally involved in this activity. The word is used elsewhere to refer to a work of art or masterpiece. What does this mean for those of us who come from a dysfunctional home? We are more than the product of our family background. We are the handiwork of God.

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Think of Ephesians 2:1–10 as your adoption papers. They provide written proof that you belong to the family of God. You might also think of these verses as a snapshot. They show who you really are. When you feel haunted by your past, turn to these words to remember your true identity. You are the redeemed child of God.

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