God promised that a rescuer would one day come to save his people from their sins, and the rescuer would come from the family line of Adam and Eve.

We have learned about the following people in Jesus’ family line:

Adam & Eve, Seth, Noah and Shem, Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac, and Jacob.

Jacob had 12 sons, and they weren't very nice to each other. They were all messy. Out of all of Jacob's sons, his favorite was Joseph. He loved Joseph so much that he gave him a special coat. His brothers were jealous and ended up selling him. Joseph was taken far away - to Egypt - and his dad thought that he was dead. 

If this family is in Jesus' family line, could God's promise survive hard times? Yes! God preserved the promised family. But, the family line wasn't through Joseph, which would be the obvious choice. The family line was preserved through Judah. 

We can see God's faithfulness in the story of Joseph and his family. Deuteronomy 7:9 helps us remember God's faithfulness.

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations... - Deuteronomy 7:9