Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. (NIV)
With the change of one ruler to the next, the lives of an entire nation went from good to bad. Under the previous ruler of Egypt, the nation of Israel had been allowed to receive food during a time of famine and to live off the land when the famine passed. The pharaoh had made promises to Joseph, and all of Israel prospered because of them. This pharaoh’s successor, however, knew nothing of this and began to oppress the Israelites, turning them into slaves.
This passage from our history reminds us of the importance of passing on the faith and teaching its precepts and its stories to the next generation. Think about it. Wherever you live, you have an incredible opportunity and responsibility. Whether you live in Texas or New Zealand, you have the task of passing along the details of the Christian faith, which began two thousand years ago in the Middle East.
To fulfill this task, we must all do two things. First, we must study and understand our faith. We must read the Bible, and through prayer and study, seek to understand it better. We must learn the stories of our faith. Second, we must always be looking for those with whom to share our faith. Whether with a neighbor or co-worker, whether with a son or daughter, niece or nephew, we must spread the Good News, lest there should ever come again a king who does not know.
Father in heaven, thank You for those who shared the gospel with me. Thank You for the teachers and pastors, family and friends who taught me the stories and doctrine of our faith. Help me to be a faithful steward of that gift, passing it along to everyone I know. In the name of Jesus, my risen Lord and savior, amen.
Copyright © 2012 by Steven R. Perkins
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