As Genesis comes to an end, so do the lives of Jacob and Joseph. While the “patriarchs” of Israel are considered to be Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, without a doubt Joseph’s contribution to Israel’s history was great. As we read the accounts of such men, we might think, “What is my role? What kind of legacy will I leave?” Few leave the kind of legacy Joseph left. He saved at least two nations, and possibly more through his work as a leader in Egypt. Not bad for a man who was sold into slavery by his brothers and spent thirteen years as a slave and a prisoner.
As we look at the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we see they contributed in differing degrees to Israel’s formation and history. Obviously, Abraham’s position was prominent, because God gave the promise of founding a people set apart for Himself through Abraham. Abraham’s faith is remembered in three books of the New Testament, and he is mentioned in others. Not only Christians, but also Jews and Muslims consider Abraham to be their spiritual “father.” Abraham’s imperfections were overcome by his deep and abiding faith, which is why we remember him thousands of years after his life on earth.
Isaac wasn’t as prominent, and in truth contributed little to the legacy of Israel except his two sons: Esau and Jacob. The younger would become both famous and infamous for his intimate struggle and relationship with God, for his twelve sons and for moving his family to Egypt, where Israel was “born” in the sense of their becoming a sizable nation. As we read of Jacob’s “blessings” on his sons, and two of his grandsons, we see Jacob didn’t pronounce only good over his sons. That makes sense, because some of Jacob’s sons were rebellious, and none of them were perfect. When Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, he took a page from his own life, by giving the greater blessing to the younger, rather than the older as the cultural tradition would have expected.
As we consider our own legacies, remember, no one knows the full extent of her or his influence on others in this life, nor how that influence might impact another’s eternity. Until we get to heaven, we will never know the full extent of our influence. That’s where our legacies will count the most. Perhaps, in what we considered to be a casual conversation, someone came to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, or at least took a first step, or a next step in that direction. A small offering we gave to a missionary might have been the resource necessary to lead someone to a saving relationship with Jesus. As long as we point people to Jesus through our words and lives, we will leave legacies that matter in eternity.
Mark’s gospel reminds us not all legacies are positive. In chapter 14, we read of Mary anointing Jesus at the home of Simon the leper. During Jesus’ time there, Judas left to betray Jesus to the Jewish religious leaders. At the last supper, Jesus told the disciples one of them would betray Him. Each one asked, “Is it I, Lord?” No one was so sure of himself as to say, “I won’t!” Jesus told Peter before the night was over, Peter would deny ever knowing Jesus three times. We all know it happened, but Peter couldn’t imagine it happening at the moment Jesus spoke the words. Thankfully, Peter’s legacy doesn’t end around that campfire where he denied Jesus three times. Our lives are filed with opportunities to speak up for Jesus or to remain quiet; to live out our faith in Jesus toward others, or stand in the shadows doing nothing. How we respond day-by-day forges the legacies we leave behind on earth, and much more importantly the legacies we forge in heaven.
As you and I go about today, which is the only day we’re guaranteed to experience, let’s build into our eternal legacies by representing Jesus faithfully, in the power of the Holy Spirit!