Faith, Favor, and Family: God's Unfailing Covenant

Devotional

Day 1: God Works Through Imperfect Families

No family is perfect, and God’s faithfulness shines through our messes and dysfunctions. Even in the story of Jacob and Joseph, we see favoritism, jealousy, and broken relationships, yet God’s covenant and promises continue undeterred. The reality is that every family, every church, and every person is flawed, but God’s grace is greater than our sin and He keeps His word despite our weaknesses. You are not disqualified by your family’s struggles or your own; God’s love and favor remain steadfast, working through all the imperfection to bring about His good purposes. [34:44]

Genesis 37:1-4 (ESV)
Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

Reflection: Where have you seen God’s faithfulness at work in the middle of your family’s or your own imperfections, and how might you thank Him for it today?

Day 2: God’s Grace Is Greater Than Your Mess

God’s grace and favor are not limited by your failures, your family’s dysfunction, or the chaos around you. When you are tempted to focus on your shortcomings or the brokenness in your life, remember that God’s grace is always at work—past, present, and future. The enemy wants you to believe you are disqualified, but God’s love is persistent, and His favor is not earned by your perfection but given freely through Jesus. Let go of the shame and accusations, and take hold of the grace that God has already poured out for you. [40:03]

Romans 8:1 (ESV)
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you tend to disqualify yourself from God’s favor—can you bring that to God in prayer and ask Him to help you receive His grace today?

Day 3: God Gives Dreams and Purpose, Even in Chaos

God sometimes gives dreams or a sense of calling that reveal His purpose, even when life feels chaotic or you feel unqualified. Joseph’s dreams were not about his own greatness, but about God’s unfolding plan for salvation and blessing. Sometimes, God’s dreams for you may not make sense to others, or even to yourself, and may bring tension or misunderstanding. Yet, these dreams can provide comfort and assurance that God is working, even when the path is difficult or unclear. [46:57]

Genesis 37:5-11 (ESV)
Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Reflection: Is there a dream or calling God has placed on your heart that you’ve set aside because of fear, rejection, or misunderstanding? What would it look like to trust God with it again?

Day 4: God’s Plan Prevails in His Timing, Not Ours

God’s promises and purposes unfold in His perfect timing, not according to our impatience or expectations. Joseph wanted his dream fulfilled immediately, but God used years of struggle, rejection, and even pain to shape his character and prepare him for his calling. The pit and the struggle are not signs of God’s absence, but often the very soil where faith and fruitfulness grow. Trust that God is working a bigger story in your life, even when you can’t see it, and ask Him for eyes of faith to see beyond your present pain. [01:03:00]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Reflection: Where are you feeling stuck or discouraged in waiting for God’s promises? How can you surrender your timeline to Him and ask for faith to trust His process today?

Day 5: God Pours Out His Spirit and Purpose on All

God’s Spirit is poured out on all believers, not just a select few, and He gives purpose, comfort, and power to each of us for His mission. In the last days, God promised to give dreams, visions, and prophetic words to all His people, equipping us to share His love and hope with the world. No matter how broken or chaotic your life feels, you are included in God’s plan, and He wants to use you as a blessing to others. Seek Him in prayer and His Word, and be open to how He might awaken your heart and purpose today. [01:08:19]

Acts 2:17 (ESV)
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;’”

Reflection: Who is one person you can encourage or bless today, trusting that God’s Spirit is at work in you and through you, even in your ordinary circumstances?

Sermon Summary

Family is messy, and life is messy, but God’s faithfulness never wavers. Gathering together, we are reminded that this is a place of grace—a no-judgment zone—where it’s okay to not be okay. The stories of the first families in Genesis show us that dysfunction, favoritism, and brokenness are nothing new. Jacob’s family, with all its favoritism and rivalry, is a mirror for our own families. Yet, through all the mess, God’s covenant and promises remain unbroken. God’s faithfulness is not dependent on our perfection, but on His steadfast love and grace.

God’s favor is not a reward for good behavior or a sign of worldly success. It is a gift, lavished on us even when we are unworthy. Like Joseph, we may find ourselves the object of jealousy or misunderstanding, but God’s favor is at work in ways we often cannot see. The grace that God pours out is greater than any sin, any family dysfunction, or any personal failure. We are not saved by our works, our family heritage, or even our repentance, but by the grace of God alone, who fulfills His promises through Jesus Christ.

God sometimes gives dreams—visions of His purpose and will. These dreams are not always about personal prosperity or comfort, but about participating in God’s greater story of redemption. Joseph’s dreams were misunderstood and even resented by his family, but they were part of God’s plan to bring about transformation and salvation. Dreams from God often come with tension and require discernment, patience, and faith. They may lead us through pain, rejection, or seasons of waiting, but God uses these struggles to shape our character and prepare us for His purposes.

Rejection and setbacks are not the end of God’s calling. They are often the soil in which faith grows and matures. God’s timing is perfect, even when we are in the pit or on the struggle bus. The burden of fulfilling God’s promises is on Him, not on us. Our role is to seek Him in prayer and in His Word, to trust His faithfulness, and to keep our eyes open to the bigger story He is writing in our lives. The Holy Spirit is poured out on all believers, empowering us to live as part of God’s redemptive mission, no matter how broken our circumstances may seem.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Faithfulness Surpasses Our Imperfection God’s promises are not hindered by our family dysfunction, personal failures, or spiritual immaturity. He remains faithful even when we are not, working through our mess to fulfill His covenant. This truth frees us from the burden of perfectionism and invites us to rest in His steadfast love. [34:44]
2. God’s Favor Is a Gift, Not a Reward Favor is not a sign of spiritual superiority or a reward for good behavior. It is the unearned, lavish grace of God poured out on all who believe. When we focus on our shortcomings or compare ourselves to others, we miss the reality that God’s favor is already at work in us, shaping us for His purposes. [36:06]
3. God’s Dreams Require Patience and Transformation Divine dreams often come with tension, misunderstanding, and even pain. They are not always fulfilled immediately, but require seasons of waiting, refining, and growth. God uses these times to shape our character, deepen our faith, and prepare us for the greater story He is writing through us. [54:53]
4. Rejection Is Often God’s Redirection Setbacks, rejection, and even failure are not signs that God has abandoned us. Instead, they are opportunities for God to refine our calling and redirect our steps. The burden of fulfilling God’s promises is on Him, and He will bring His purposes to completion in His perfect timing. [58:10]
5. The Holy Spirit Empowers Us for God’s Mission God pours out His Spirit on all believers, not just a select few. This outpouring is for the sake of His mission—to proclaim Christ, to comfort the broken, and to participate in His work of redemption. No matter how chaotic or broken our lives may seem, the Spirit is at work, and God’s faithfulness will prevail. [68:19]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[13:27] - Gathering as Family
[14:34] - A Place of Grace
[14:56] - Genesis: First Families and Faith
[15:28] - God’s Faithfulness in Chaos
[16:07] - God’s Compassion and Presence
[26:15] - Church Myths About Favor
[28:09] - God Works Through Imperfect Families
[30:31] - Family Dysfunction and Favoritism
[33:26] - God’s Covenant Continues
[36:06] - The Prodigal Father’s Lavish Grace
[38:03] - God’s Favor in Our Mess
[42:38] - God Gives Dreams and Purpose
[46:57] - Dreams as Comfort and Assurance
[49:05] - Personal Stories of God’s Leading
[52:23] - God’s Dreams and Human Resistance
[54:53] - Transformation Through Pain and Waiting
[57:35] - God’s Plan Prevails in His Time
[66:51] - The Spirit Poured Out on All
[68:19] - Living in God’s Blessing and Mission
[69:51] - Prayer and Closing

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide**

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### Bible Reading

**Genesis 37:1-11 (ESV)**
> Jacob lived in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob.
> Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
> Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.
> But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
> Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”
> His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
> Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
> But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?”
> And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

**Philippians 1:6 (ESV)**
> And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

**Acts 2:17 (ESV)**
> “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;’”

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### Observation Questions

What are some of the signs of dysfunction and favoritism in Jacob’s family as described in Genesis 37:1-11?
According to the sermon, how did Joseph’s brothers respond to his dreams, and what does this reveal about their relationship? [[43:21]]
In Philippians 1:6, who is responsible for bringing God’s work in us to completion?
What does Acts 2:17 say about who receives the Holy Spirit and what happens as a result?

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### Interpretation Questions

The sermon says, “God’s promises are not hindered by our family dysfunction, personal failures, or spiritual immaturity. He remains faithful even when we are not, working through our mess to fulfill His covenant.” How does this truth challenge the way people often view their own family or personal struggles? [[34:44]]
Why do you think God allowed Joseph to have dreams that would cause tension and jealousy in his family? What might God have been doing in the bigger picture? [[54:53]]
The pastor shared that “God’s favor is not a reward for good behavior or a sign of worldly success. It is the unearned, lavish grace of God poured out on all who believe.” How does this understanding of favor differ from how people usually think about God’s blessings? [[36:06]]
The sermon mentions that rejection and setbacks are often the soil in which faith grows and matures. How might this perspective change the way someone views their own disappointments or failures? [[58:10]]

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### Application Questions

The sermon described church and small group as a “no-judgment zone” and a “place of grace.” What would it look like for your group or your family to truly be a place where “it’s okay to not be okay”? Are there specific ways you can help create that environment? [[14:34]]
Think about your own family or upbringing. Are there patterns of dysfunction, favoritism, or brokenness that you see? How does knowing that God works through imperfect families give you hope or change your perspective? [[28:09]]
The pastor said, “God’s favor is at work in you, shaping you for His purposes,” even when you don’t feel worthy. When have you struggled to believe that God’s favor is for you? What would it look like to rest in God’s grace this week instead of striving for perfection? [[38:03]]
Joseph’s dreams were misunderstood and even resented by his family, but they were part of God’s plan. Have you ever felt misunderstood or rejected because of something you believed God was calling you to do? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [[54:53]]
The sermon talked about “waiting seasons” and how God uses pain and setbacks to shape our character. Is there an area of your life right now where you feel like you’re “in the pit” or on the “struggle bus”? How can you trust God’s timing and look for what He might be doing in you during this season? [[57:35]]
Acts 2:17 says God pours out His Spirit on all believers, not just a select few. How does this truth encourage you about your role in God’s mission, even if your life feels messy or ordinary? [[01:08:19]]
The pastor shared personal stories of God leading through dreams and unexpected circumstances. Can you think of a time when God led you in a way you didn’t expect? How did you discern it was from God, and what was the outcome? [[49:05]]

Sermon Clips

There's no perfect family and there is no perfect Thanksgiving dinner. There's only one perfect Thanksgiving dinner. And it's in your head. I mean, our Thanksgiving table, I don't know how many of you grew up with a kid table. How many of you got kids' tables? The kids would be on a separate table because you had so many. And what they would do is, if you would ask for, like, corn, the bowl of corn could be one over. But no, it had to go around the whole table the other way. And the goal of it was for everybody to take enough corn. When it got to you, it was empty. So you had to get up and refill it. Now, that was just a little kid around with us. But can you imagine what it would have been like around a dinner table with Joseph and his brothers? I don't even think Joseph's at the table. He's by daddy's side being protected. There's no way. These guys hated him. But what do we see be God's covenant continues despite this human weakness. Despite all their brokenness, God's covenant continues. [00:32:27] (66 seconds) #PerfectlyImperfectFamily

God kept his covenant, his promise. The way back in Abraham that he gave, that he would send his one and only son, the one who would be perfect, the one who would live perfect, would take on flesh, would take on our sin, and take our place, and fulfill the standards that we couldn't do, but yet get the punishment that we deserve. And he would be contemned to hell, not us. He would be ripped apart from his father so we could be brought to peace. And through his sacrifice, the shedding of blood, it could be forgiveness of sins for all of the world, for anyone who will believe, who's baptized, has received, has been given this gift. [00:35:06] (58 seconds) #CovenantFulfilledInChrist

We're reminded we're not saved by our works. We're not saved by our family heritage. We're not saved by our sincerity or our decisions or even our works of repentance. We are saved alone by the grace of God who reached down and did what needed to be done to fulfill the promise and the covenant for you and I to be brought into that relationship. [00:36:43] (23 seconds) #SavedByGraceAlone

God graciously called us by the Holy Spirit, graciously gives that gift of salvation that moves in our heart and our mind and our soul and changes it to say, I believe, I want that to take hold of it by faith. And see, we just want to be reminded God's grace is greater than your sin. God's grace is greater than any sin. That means you can come from a messed up family. You can still be in a mess and God's grace is greater. God's favor is greater. And God's favor is at work. It's been at work for you. It is at work in you. It is work with you. And it wants to be at work through you in every ordinary day. [00:37:07] (62 seconds) #GraceGreaterThanSin

Don't discount God in your life. I just want to tell you up front, don't discount God in your life. Because of your sin. Because of your mess. Because of your brokenness. Look, there's grace. When you start discounting, that is Satan accusing you. God's not accusing you. Satan is. Satan's trying to condemn you. Satan's trying to put a wedge between you and God. We're all a mess. We all need to be grown. And we need to be purified. And we need to be let go, though. We need to let go of the sin in our life and take hold of the grace that God has put there. Take hold of the favor he's put into our lives. [00:39:45] (42 seconds) #EmbraceGodsGrace

Life is messy, full of brokenness and sin. And it will continue to be messy and broken, full of sin. Our conquering of that doesn't happen until we get to heaven. So let it go. God did. Don't discount God in your life and don't discount God in your family. Just because your family's a mess, dysfunctional, full of sin. God's grace is greater. God's grace is still at work. God's favor is still there. [00:40:42] (35 seconds) #GodWorksThroughChaos

God's work is always perfect and He always works through the imperfect. That's the way it's always going to be. And that's the incredible tension that you and I walk into all the time and we live in. That both exist. And it takes faith to see, right? Because I can't always see it because I just see and feel the mess. I feel and see the chaos. That's usually what has my attention. Not God's Spirit working through the chaos. Working through the mess. [00:41:48] (45 seconds) #GodIsOurComfort

God's plan will prevail but here's the key in his time. Joseph wanted it right now. But when he told it to his father and to his brothers his father rebuked him and said to him what is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I, your mother, and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you? And his brothers were jealous of him but his father kept the saying in mind. And so we see this rebuke, this kind of even like rejection but this rejection from his dad was actually a redirection. It's not time. It's not now. [00:57:28] (44 seconds) #BurdenOnGod

Don't be surprised if you're like Joseph and God gives you a dream but instead of ending up on the palace and the dream being fulfilled you end up in a pit first. And often God will let get you into the pit because God's got to shape you you got to transform for the dream he has for you but here's the problem none of us like the pit and we feel like we get put in the pit we quit and we quit we miss out on what God is trying to shape in our lives for what he has for us and we end up selling out for something less. [01:01:46] (39 seconds) #EyesOfFaith

God is not saying hey I'm going to pour out my spirit for you to just have private revelations of yourself he pours out his spirit for his purpose he pours out his spirit for his will he pours out his spirit for his comfort of his church of his saints that they're reminded no matter how chaotic how broken how messed their family life gets how far they fall how deep they are in the pit whether they fell it themselves or somebody put them in there it's not too far from God and God is faithful and God will fulfill his word and promise and he will fulfill that great commission to the ends of the earth and he uses us this broken imperfect church to do it with the kingdom in the name of God amen God has faith for all and all are blessed to be a blessing let us go live in that blessing each and every day as God awakens hearts around us to him. [01:08:19] (67 seconds) #SpiritPouredForPurpose

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