Session 7: Genesis 37-46

Session 7: Genesis 37-46

Summary

I.  Joseph sent ahead (Gen 37)

a. God gives Joseph visions of the future(1-11)

b. Joseph's brothers are annoyed with him and get rid of him(12-36)

bi. Ruben preserves Joseph’s life(22)

bii. Judah convinces the brothers to sell Joseph(26-27)

biii. Joseph is sold to Midianites that sell him in Egypt(28, 36)

biv. Jacob is told Joseph is dead(29-35)

II.  God prepares Judah (Gen 38)

a. Judah leaves his brothers and starts a family(38-1-5)

b. Judah finds a wife for his oldest son(6)

c. God kills Judah’s first two sons because of their wickedness(10)

d. Judah makes and breaks his promise to his daughter in law(11-14)

e. Tamar holds Judah to his promise(15-26)

III. God prepares Joseph (Gen 39-40)

a. Joseph finds favor with Potiphar(39:1-6)

b. Joseph resists temptation but is unjustly imprisoned(6-20)

c. God positions Joseph to have influence(21-40-23)

d. God elevates Joseph(41:1-49)

IV.  God uses Joseph (Gen 41-42:13)

a. God uses Joseph to interpret Pharaoh's dream and save Egypt from famine (41)

b. God uses famine to reunite Israel’s family(42:1-7)

c. Joseph tests his brothers(8-43:34)

V.  Judah proves himself worthy(Gen 42:14-44)

a. Joseph makes his brother’s promise to bring Benjamin to Egypt

b. Judah pledges to protect Benjamin and takes responsibility for the welfare of the family(43:8-44:34)

VI. Israel's family made whole(Gen 45-46)

a. Joseph reveals himself to his brothers(45:1-15)

b. Joseph sends his brothers to move their families to Egypt(45:16-27)

c. Israel is reunited with Joseph(28-30)

d. Pharoah shows favor to Joseph’s family(31-34)

Analyze

1. What caused Joseph’s brothers to dislike him? (Gen 37)

1. If Joseph’s dreams were from God and true then why would his brothers and father be upset against him?
2. What does Joseph lording his position with his father reveal about his character?

Read 1 Peter 3:15, Proverbs 15:1, Ephesians 4:15

3. How do these passages and Joseph’s example influence how you might present true but hard truths to people?
4. Which of Israel/Jacob’s sons influences his brothers to sell Joseph?

Judah is the fourth oldest son of Jacob, his older brothers have disqualified themselves from receiving the birthright and family authority from Jacob. However, Judah isn’t pictured as a righteous leader worthy succeeding Jacob as inheritor of the covenant. This story chronicles God developing and preparing Judah’s character to be the next leader of the family.

2. Why were Judah’s two oldest sons killed?(38-6-10)

1. Why does Judah send Tamar away?(11)
2. Why does Tamar go to Timnah?  What does Tamar observe when she gets to Timnah?(13)

Judah asks Tamar to have sex with him so he can participate in a pagan form of worship that venerates the gods appealing to them to bless their flocks and crops.

3. Why does Judah save Tamar from being stoned?

Judah and Tamar are both people that do sinful things.  Their stories aren’t examples meant to be models for us to follow.  What is instructive about their story is that although they are sinful people God chooses to use them turning good out of their sinful actions.

3. Why did Joseph find favor with Potiphar? (39:2-3)

Read 2 Timothy 2:22, 1 Corinthians 6:18, 10:13; Jas 4:7-10

1. How did Joseph respond to the opportunity to have a discreet affair with Potiphar’s wife?(8-18)
2. What obstacles do you face in that keep you from fleeing when faced with temptation?
3. How does pride or self sufficiency get in the way of depending on Christ?(2 Cor 3:5, Jn 15:5)

Read Psalm 139, 1 John 1:9

4. When you face temptation and fail to resist, what keeps you from turning back to God and seeking to restore your relationship with Him?

4. How do we see God’s providence in the way Potiphar responds to the accusation against Joseph?(providence=protective care and hand of the Lord in the affairs of men)(39:19-40:3)

1. How did God use the placement of Joseph in prison to set up the deliverance of his family from famine?(40-42)
2. How have you seen the providence of God in your life?  How does reflecting on God’s providence change your perspective on your life story?
3. How does knowing that God is actively at work in the world change the way you approach life decisions?

Read Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 8:28-29

4. How does God reunite Joseph with His brothers and ultimately his entire family?
5. How does this and the above passages change your perspective on the seemingly bad things that happen in your life? What do these passages tell you about God?

Read James 1:2-8, Matt 11:27-29

6. How can these passages help you to identify with Joseph in the midst of suffering and uncertainty?

5. How does Joseph’s testing of his brothers give Judah the opportunity to prove his character?

1. How has Judah changed in Genesis 44-45 from Genesis 37-38? How has Joseph changed from Genesis 37?
2. When you look back on your life, how have you changed? How have you grown in character, trust, and obedience to God? If you haven’t changed, why not?

6. How many people were in Jacob’s family when he moved to Egypt?

1. What were some of the benefits Jacob’s(Israel) family received from moving to Egypt? How did Joseph’s position affect the treatment of of Jacob’s family?
2. How do the events of Genesis 46 display the providence of God in fulfilling His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

Contextualize

1. God orchestrates the circumstances of our lives to accomplish His purposes
2. God desires His people to grow in godly character
3. God uses and redeems broken sinful people

Actualize

Create a brief timeline of your life over the past year and write down things that you have learned.  Ask God to give you clarity on how he’s shaping your character and equipping you.  Share how God is preparing and shaping you with 2 other people.