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Joseph
Faith
What life pattern did Israel repeat even though he should have known better?
If Israel felt that way but tried not to show it, do you think things would have been different? Why, why not.
How did Joseph do that fueled the fires? Was this wise?
What was the reaction to Joseph's dreams from:
His brothers?
His father, Israel?
How can we use God's gifts in thoughtless ways, or ways that may injure others?
Do you think that there are times that God gives us prophecy but doesn't intend for us to share them?
Gen 37:11-22 NLT But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant. (12) Soon after this, Joseph's brothers went to pasture their father's flocks at Shechem. (13) When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, "Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them." "I'm ready to go," Joseph replied. (14) "Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along," Jacob said. "Then come back and bring me a report." So Jacob sent him on his way, and Joseph traveled to Shechem from their home in the valley of Hebron. (15) When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. "What are you looking for?" he asked. (16) "I'm looking for my brothers," Joseph replied. "Do you know where they are pasturing their sheep?" (17) "Yes," the man told him. "They have moved on from here, but I heard them say, 'Let's go on to Dothan.'" So Joseph followed his brothers to Dothan and found them there. (18) When Joseph's brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. (19) "Here comes the dreamer!" they said. (20) "Come on, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, 'A wild animal has eaten him.' Then we'll see what becomes of his dreams!" (21) But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph's rescue. "Let's not kill him," he said. (22) "Why should we shed any blood? Let's just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he'll die without our laying a hand on him." Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.
What was Israel's response to the what was happening? What do you think about this?
What position does Jacob place Joseph in again – how might this influence the brothers' relationship? (see verses 37:2, 37:14)
What does verse 37:11 reveal about Jacob's involvement with the family relationships?
How does the brother's scheming compare to Esau in the conflict between Jacob and Esau? How far has Esau's envy, jealousy and revenge taken him? How far are the brothers going?
There is one brother who is not following the group. The text indicates that he plans to rescue Joseph. Do you think this was the right way to handle the conflict? What do you learn about listening to a single voice of objection, or about being that single voice of objection?
Gen 37:23-34 NIV So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the richly ornamented robe he was wearing— (24) and they took him and threw him into the cistern. Now the cistern was empty; there was no water in it. (25) As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. (26) Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? (27) Come, let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood." His brothers agreed. (28) So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. (29) When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. (30) He went back to his brothers and said, "The boy isn't there! Where can I turn now?" (31) Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. (32) They took the ornamented robe back to their father and said, "We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son's robe." (33) He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces." (34) Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.
What is different in what the brothers did here compared to the story of Jacob and Esau?
What was Reuben's role in these events? How would you describe Reuben's relationship with his brothers?
How did we get to this point, what were the events?
Jacob's role...
Joseph's role...
Reuben's role...
Judah's role...
The Ishmaelites' role...
Gen 39:1-23 NIV Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there. (2) The LORD was with Joseph and he prospered, and he lived in the house of his Egyptian master. (3) When his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD gave him success in everything he did, (4) Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant. Potiphar put him in charge of his household, and he entrusted to his care everything he owned. (5) From the time he put him in charge of his household and of all that he owned, the LORD blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the LORD was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field. (6) So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, (7) and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, "Come to bed with me!" (8) But he refused. "With me in charge," he told her, "my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. (9) No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?" (10) And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. (11) One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. (12) She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. (13) When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, (14) she called her household servants. "Look," she said to them, "this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. (15) When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house." (16) She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. (17) Then she told him this story: "That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. (18) But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house." (19) When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, "This is how your slave treated me," he burned with anger. (20) Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, (21) the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. (22) So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. (23) The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.
What did Joseph do to find favor with Potiphar?
Do you think that Potiphar was a Jew? How would he find it beneficial that “the Lord was with Joseph”? What about you would people find favorable because the Lord is with you? What does this mean about the influence of your relationship with God and the influence that has on your relationship with others?
What did Joseph do to fall out of favor with Potiphar? Would you have thought it “fair” to be put in prison for something you didn't do?
What was it about Joseph (even though he was accused of attempted rape of the master's wife) made Joseph find favor with the prison warden?
Can you describe Joseph's relationship with God? What prayer would you ask of God because of this story of Joseph?
Gen 40:1-8,20-23 NIV Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, the king of Egypt. (2) Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, (3) and put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. (4) The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them. After they had been in custody for some time, (5) each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. (6) When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected. (7) So he asked Pharaoh's officials who were in custody with him in his master's house, "Why are your faces so sad today?" (8) "We both had dreams," they answered, "but there is no one to interpret them." Then Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams." (20) Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: (21) He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh's hand, (22) but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. (23) The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Gen 41:1,8-16 NIV When two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, (8) In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. (9) Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "Today I am reminded of my shortcomings. (10) Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard. (11) Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own. (12) Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. (13) And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was hanged." (14) So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh. (15) Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." (16) "I cannot do it," Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires."
What was Joseph's attitude toward the prisoners under his care? (verses 1-7) Would you be tempted to plead your case with the two men and hope that they would represent that case to Pharaoh? What does this tell you about Joseph and his relationship with those around him?
Nevertheless, even though Joseph demonstrated compassion and love for the prisoners in his care (while he was wrongfully imprisoned), what happens in verse 23? What would your reaction be?
Now (verse 1) after 2 years of remaining in prison, wrongfully imprisoned, forgotten by the one whom he showed compassion to, he his finally called out from prison. What would your attitude be at this point? Would there be revenge, bitterness, anger? Would you have taken the opportunity to plead your case before Pharaoh in hopes of getting your sentence commuted? How would Joseph have been received by Pharaoh if he had demonstrated these emotions?
What do you learn from Joseph's relationships with God, Potiphar and the cupbearer? How can you apply that to your life and your relationships?
Gen 41:32-44 NIV The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. (33) "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. (34) Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. (35) They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. (36) This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine." (37) The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. (38) So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?" (39) Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. (40) You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." (41) So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt." (42) Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph's finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. (43) He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and men shouted before him, "Make way!" Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt. (44) Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt."
What did Joseph do to find favor in the eyes of Pharaoh?
What impressed Pharaoh about Joseph?
Did Joseph plead his wrongful imprisonment to Pharaoh?
In just a few minutes, Joseph is transformed from a prisoner into Pharaoh's most trusted official and second in command. Why? (verse 38-39)
Was Pharaoh a Jew who worshiped and admired the God of the Jews? Why was Pharaoh so taken with the God of Israel? Is the same true in your life? How can it be true for you, too?
Gen 42:29-38 NIV When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said, (30) "The man who is lord over the land spoke harshly to us and treated us as though we were spying on the land. (31) But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies. (32) We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.' (33) "Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, 'This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go. (34) But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.'" (35) As they were emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his pouch of silver! When they and their father saw the money pouches, they were frightened. (36) Their father Jacob said to them, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!" (37) Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put both of my sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back." (38) But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."
What is Joseph doing with his brothers? What do you think about Joseph's behavior?
What verse reveals that Jacob may have known who was behind Joseph's presumed death?
What does Jacob assume now in verse 36? How can we make assumptions like this that color our relationships with our families, friends and God?
What does Reuben say to try and convince Jacob to trust him? Does Jacob trust him? Why not? What does this reveal about relationships and culpability?
Gen 44:30-34 NIV "So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy's life, (31) sees that the boy isn't there, he will die. Your servants will bring the gray head of our father down to the grave in sorrow. (32) Your servant guaranteed the boy's safety to my father. I said, 'If I do not bring him back to you, I will bear the blame before you, my father, all my life!' (33) "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers. (34) How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come upon my father."
Who is speaking to Joseph?
How does this contrast with Judah's plan in 37:26?
What has happened to Judah?
Gen 45:1-15 NIV Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. (2) And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh's household heard about it. (3) Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still living?" But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. (4) Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! (5) And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. (6) For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. (7) But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (8) "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. (9) Now hurry back to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don't delay. (10) You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. (11) I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.' (12) "You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. (13) Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly." (14) Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping. (15) And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
Gen 46:1-6 NIV So Israel set out with all that was his, and when he reached Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. (2) And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!" "Here I am," he replied. (3) "I am God, the God of your father," he said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. (4) I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close your eyes." (5) Then Jacob left Beersheba, and Israel's sons took their father Jacob and their children and their wives in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to transport him. (6) They also took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in Canaan, and Jacob and all his offspring went to Egypt.
- Based on verse 2 above and
43:30-31, was this an easy thing for Joseph to do? What does this
tell you about Joseph's character?
- What has happened in Israel's family relationships?
What has happened in God's plan?
Has your and your family's life seemed to take a wrong direction? Have family relationships fallen? What does this story teach us about:
What is required for reconciliation?
How God works with us and our families through conflict and suffering?
What is God revealing through this study for you as we approach this Christmas season?
THEME
CHARACTER OF GOD
APPLICATION
The Pharoh during Joseph's servitude to Potiphar was probably Sesostris II (1897-1879 b.c.)
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Chronology from Solomon Back to Joseph |
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Years (b.c.) |
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Events |
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971 |
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Beginning of Solomon’s reign |
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- 4 |
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|
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967 |
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Fourth year of Solomon’s reign |
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- 1 |
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Year to adjust for the fact that the fourth year of Solomon’s reign was actually the fourth full year of his reign (but into the fifth year calendarwise |
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966 |
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Year the temple construction began |
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+480 |
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Year from the Exodus to Solomon’s beginning to build the temple (1Ki_6:1) |
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1446 |
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Year of the Exodus from Egypt |
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+430 |
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Year the Israelites were in Egypt |
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1876 |
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Year Jacob and his family moved to Egypt (after 2 years of famine; Gen_45:6) |
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+ 2 |
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Portion of the seven-year famine before Jacob moved to Egypt (Gen_45:6) |
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1878 |
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Year the seven-year famine began |
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+ 7 |
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Years of abundance |
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1885 |
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Year Joseph was taken out of prison and made second-in-command (at age 30; Gen_41:47) |
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+ 13 |
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Years Joseph was at Potiphar’s house and in prison |
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1898 |
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Year Joseph was sold to Egypt (at age 17; Gen_37:2, Gen_37:28) |
(Source – Bible Knowledge Commentary)
Jacob's sons by Leah:
1. Reuben (29:32)
2. Simeon (29:33)
3. Levi (29:34)
4. Judah (29:35)
9. Issachar (30:17)
10. Zebulun (30:20)
Dinah (daughter) (30:21)
Jacob's sons by Rachael:
11. Joseph (30:24)
12. Benjamin (35:18)
Jacob's sons by Bilhah (Rachael's maidservant):
5. Dan (30:6)
6. Naphtali (30:8)
Jacob's sons by Zilpah (Rachael's maidservant):
7. Gad (30:11)
8. Asher (30:13)