Acting on God’s Promises 凭神的应许而行

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Dexu Xia

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Jul 13, 2026, 1:18:20 AM (13 days ago) Jul 13

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Joseph . . . said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” Genesis 50:25

Today's Scripture Genesis 50:22-26

Today's Insights The writer of Hebrews commended Joseph for believing God’s promise that He’d bring his family out of Egypt into the promised land: “By faith Joseph . . . spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones” (Hebrews 11:22; see Genesis 50:24-25). In reconciling with his brothers who grievously harmed him, Joseph points us to God’s sovereignty in directing human affairs. His statement that “you intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good” (Genesis 50:20) is echoed in Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Just as “the Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2, 23), we can trust in His promise that He’ll be with us and never forsake us: “We say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6; see Psalm 118:6-7).

Today's Devotion Pieter kisses a framed picture of his elderly parents every night. It’s been many years since he was last with them. As a young adult, when he became a follower of Jesus, his family and community pressured him to give up his newfound belief. When he didn’t, his parents disowned him. “In the Bible, God promised He’d help His children in difficult times, and I believed Him,” Pieter said. “Choosing to follow Him brought suffering, but He has helped me endure.”

Pieter has the assurance from God that He keeps His word, so Pieter is able to trustingly act on God’s promises. We read in Genesis that Joseph, at the end of his life, was also confident in the promises of God. He told his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (Genesis 50:24). Joseph was sure that God would keep His promise to take His people to Canaan. So he instructed the Israelites, “You must carry my bones up from [Egypt]” (v. 25).

Four hundred years later, during the exodus from Egypt, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him” (Exodus 13:19). Eventually, “Joseph’s bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem [in Canaan]” (Joshua 24:32).

Let’s follow Joseph’s example of faith (Hebrews 11:22), showing our faith in God’s promises by acting on them.

Reflect & Pray What promises of God can you act on? What practical steps can you take?

Faithful God, thank You for Your promises. By Karen Huang

约瑟……说：“神必定看顾你们，把你们从这地领上去。”（创世记 50:25）

今日经文：创世记 50:22-26

今日洞见：希伯来书的作者称赞约瑟，因他相信神必带领其家族离开埃及、进入应许之地的应许：“约瑟因着信……题到以色列族将来出埃及的事，并为自己的骸骨留下遗命”（希伯来书 11:22；参创世记 50:24-25）。约瑟与曾深深伤害他的兄弟和好，这让我们看到神在掌管人类事务上的主权。他那句“从前你们的意思是要害我，但神的意思原是好的”（创世记 50:20），与罗马书8章28节的教导遥相呼应：“我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按他旨意被召的人。”正如“耶和华与约瑟同在”（创世记 39:2, 23），我们也能信靠祂的应许，祂必与我们同在，永不撇下我们：“我们可以放胆说：‘主是帮助我的，我必不惧怕’”（希伯来书 13:5-6；参诗篇 118:6-7）。

今日灵修：彼得每晚都会亲吻一张他年迈父母的相框照片。他与父母已多年未见。年轻时，当他开始跟随耶稣，家人和社区便向他施压，要他放弃这刚得的信仰。因他不肯放弃，父母便与他断绝了关系。“圣经里，神应许会帮助祂在患难中的儿女，我相信了祂，”彼得说，“选择跟随祂虽然带来了苦难，但祂也帮助我坚持了下来。”彼得确信神必信守承诺，因此他能满怀信心地凭神的应许而行。我们在创世记中读到，约瑟在生命终了之时，也同样确信神的应许。他对兄弟们说：“我快要死了，但神必眷顾你们，领你们从这地上去，到他起誓应许给亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各之地”（创世记 50:24）。约瑟确信神必信守应许，带领祂的子民进入迦南。因此，他嘱咐以色列人说：“你们必须把我的骸骨从[埃及]带上去”（25节）。四百年后，在以色列人出埃及的途中，“摩西把约瑟的骸骨一同带去”（出埃及记 13:19）。最终，“以色列人从埃及带上来的约瑟骸骨，埋葬在示剑[迦南地]”（约书亚记 24:32）。让我们效法约瑟信心的榜样（希伯来书 11:22），用行动来证明我们对神的应许有信心。

反思与祷告：有哪些神的应许是你可以付诸行动的？你可以采取哪些实际行动？信实的神啊，感谢祢的应许。