Gen 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day.

Genesis 48 is about Jacob blessing Joseph and his two sons. Jacob is now old and about to die. Joseph, hearing his father was sick, brought his two sons to visit Jacob. “Out of all the events recorded in Jacob’s long life, the author of Hebrews selects this episode as his example of Jacob’s faith: “By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff” (Heb. 11:21). …. In that act of faith we see Jacob imparting to his son and grandsons the most important thing he could have given them, namely, faith in the promises of God. From this chapter we learn that the most important thing we can give to our children and grandchildren is not a college education or a large inheritance. The most important thing we can give our children and grandchildren is a godly heritage.” (Bible.org/Genesis 48, emphasis JL) As Christian parents, we should be most concerned for the spiritual well-being of our children and grandchildren. Naturally, we say we want to train up our children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). Sadly, we don’t always do it correctly. Some think that bringing them to church every Sunday is bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Well, certainly we must bring them to church every Sunday but it takes more than coming to church to bring up faithful children. Coming to church each Sunday may make a habit but not a faith. That habit may change when they grow up and find something else more interesting. Bringing up children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord is a 24/7 exercise and not just a Sunday two hours exercise. I witnessed a mother slapping her child right in the middle of the worship service. Everyone who was sitting behind her had a shock. A brother caned his child until the cane broke. Some Christian parents lay down rigid rules and correcting the slightest violation with severity. Some have no rules and let the kids run wild in the worship services. They are not bringing up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. How Can We Leave A Godly Heritage To Our Children? 1. By teaching our children and grandchildren about God. The Psalmist says: “We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done” (Psalm 78:4). Is the name of God heard in your home? 2. By recounting to our children and grandchildren our own experiences with God. Jacob told Joseph: “God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me” (v.3). And in verse 15: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day.” Parents who daily complain about life are sending a message to their children that their God is mean and uncaring. Their children would not want to have anything to do with that God. We’ve got to tell them, by our words and our attitudes, that God is faithful, even when life is hard. Jacob told his children how God had blessed him. His son Joseph, when referring to his own children said: “They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place” (v.9). When parents thank God for every blessing, their children will learn and acknowledge their blessings come from God: “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation” (Psalm 68:19). We need to tell our children and grandchildren of God’s mercy and goodness toward us. The most important heritage we can hand down to our children and grandchildren is a real faith in God. Are we showing our children and grandchildren that God is good? Are we leaving a godly heritage to them?