Every time I read Exodus 1 I am reminded that Joseph, even though he was one of the greatest leaders in the Bible, was forgotten when his days were over. He died, Pharaoh died, and a new government took over: a government that didn't recognize Joseph or his accomplishments in saving Egypt from dying of starvation. In a matter of a few years this incredible man was quickly forgotten. A firm understanding of this prompts a person to realize that the same will be true of his or her life. It's so easy and tempting to try and build a name for myself and to promote me with whatever I do. The reality is that I, too, will be forgotten (and probably much more quickly than Joseph was!). So is it really worth spending precious hours to build myself up? Absolutely not! I would rather point my life to Christ: the One who is never forgotten. Have you ever thought about the fact that a poor, Jewish Carpenter is still the center of public debate nearly 2000 years after his death? That fact alone should prompt us to accept the reality of his claim because greatness is always quickly forgotten. Godliness, however, is a different story. When we point to Christ, we achieve much greater success than when we point to ourselves.
Off the subject, I don’t know how many of you would be interested in this, but I have younger children and they are very excited about reading the Bible in a year. I have been allowing them to listen to the daily readings online while I read and do my research in another room of the house. It makes for a quiet home while I read and good discussion time the remainder of the day. Here are two sites you can use for free!: For KJV with large print read along http://www.audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html For NIV (no read along words) http://www.ibs.org/niv/audio.php If you are just starting Exodus, the story of Moses is always a favorite with kids and really gets them interested in the Bible!