I Had A Dream WEEK OF April 12, 2015 Genesis 37-50

Leader, as a rule, answering the questions in “engage it” should take no more than 10 minutes and are designed to generate conversation around the sermon’s main themes.

1. If you ever tattled on your siblings, what was the result? What would you say is the best way to deal with sibling rivalry?

2. Describe a time when you were waiting for a dream to be fulfilled. What kept you going?

Leader, “unpack it” questions help provide an understanding of what happened in the passage and a deeper analysis of certain themes in it, oftentimes, bringing in additional passages for comparison or support.

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Context: Genesis 37-50 is the account of God’s plan to preserve Israel through the life of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons. However, Joseph was born to Jacob in his old age and was the firstborn of his father’s beloved wife, Rachel. God had given Joseph two dreams, predicting that he would one day rule over his father, mother, and brothers. And Joseph shared these dreams with his family. Because his older brothers did not understand God’s plan, they became increasingly jealous of Joseph and sold him into slavery. Following many trials, Joseph became second in command of all Egypt under Pharaoh. Through Joseph, God blessed Egypt and ultimately saved Israel – the lineage of Jacob. Read Genesis 37.

3. In Genesis 37:1-11, what character traits do you see in Jacob, Joseph, and Joseph’s brothers? How do these traits impact their relationships with one another?

Jacob: Jacob clearly had a favorite among his sons (verse 3) and did not keep it secret, but rather gave Joseph a special, ornate robe. Because the brothers could see that their father loved Joseph more, they hated him and spoke unkindly to him. Although Jacob rebuked Joseph for sharing his dream that even he and Joseph’s mother would bow down to him, Jacob did not forget it (verse 11). When Jacob believed that Joseph was dead, he would not be comforted, even by his other children. Jacob’s favoritism instigated the other brothers’ ill feelings toward Joseph. Joseph: In his youth, Joseph worked in the fields and largely obeyed his father, Jacob. He told his father the negative things that his brothers’ did (brought a bad report), which contributed to their resentment towards him. Joseph showed no fear in going to find his brothers on his own, as his father directed. In sharing his dreams with his brothers, Joseph appears naive or unwise, as it further strained his relationships with them.

Joseph’s Brothers: The brothers hated Joseph (verse 4) because of Jacob’s favoritism and all the more, after Joseph shared his dreams with them (verse 8). The brothers were jealous of Joseph (verse 11). While their hatred of Joseph bonded them together, it caused them to sin and did not bring them closer to their father.

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4. In Genesis 37:18-28, what was the initial goal of the brothers’ plot against Joseph, and how did Reuben’s plan differ from that of Judah’s? What do their plans communicate about them as individuals?

Verse(s) 18-20: The brothers’ initial goal was to get rid of Joseph by killing him. 21-24: Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph and return him to their father. 25-28: Judah wanted to avoid the guilt of bloodshed and make a profit by selling Joseph for

twenty pieces of silver to Midianite merchants, who in turn sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials and the captain of the guard in Egypt.

Reuben’s plan communicates that he, as the oldest, felt a greater sense of responsibility to his father at that time and was godlier than Judah. On the other hand, Judah’s plan revealed his selfishness and ungodliness.

5. Contrast Judah’s actions in Genesis 38:12-26 with those of Joseph in Genesis 39:1, 7-18. What dissimilarities between these two men are highlighted through these passages?

Genesis 38:12-26 – Judah slept with his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, thinking she was a prostitute. (Judah had promised his youngest son, Shelah, to Tamar be her husband but reneged on his promise. So Tamar had taken matters into her own hands.) When it was found that Tamar had become pregnant, Judah initially and self-righteously condemned her to death for her immorality. But the proof of his signet, cord, and staff made him ashamedly confess his unrighteousness for not upholding his promise to her. However, he did not confess his own immorality. Genesis 39:1, 7-18 – Joseph, maintaining his faithfulness to Potiphar while a salve in his house, did not accept the suggestion of Potiphar’s wife to sleep with her and fled from her advances. These passages highlight the fact that Judah’s character is the opposite of Joseph’s. Judah is self-serving and unrighteous, while Joseph is God-fearing, righteous.

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6. Potiphar believed his wife and threw Joseph into prison. According to Genesis 39:19-23, how did the prison warden respond to Joseph and why? What was the Lord doing in Joseph’s life during his imprisonment?

The prison warden gave Joseph full charge of the other prisoners because he saw that Joseph was successful in all that he did. The Lord’s presence and love were with Joseph to sustain him. And His favor on Joseph’s life brought blessing to those around him. The Lord’s blessings prompted them to place Joseph in increasingly responsible roles that ultimately prepared him to become second in command in Egypt under Pharaoh.

7. What do we learn from Joseph about how to respond through suffering? Why does God sometimes call His people to suffer? Through Joseph’s suffering, he did not complain about his circumstances but remained content, trusting that God had placed Him there. When we find ourselves in places of suffering, we need to see our situation through God’s eyes. God sometimes calls His people to suffer in order to accomplish a greater purpose. Over a period of 13 years, Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery, imprisoned after Potiphar’s wife lied about him, and seemingly forgotten.

8. What was Judah’s redeeming moment in Genesis 44:1-5, 14-34 and how had Judah changed?

Judah’s redeeming moment is offering to take Benjamin’s place of servitude for supposedly having stolen Joseph’s silver cup. Judah’s heart had changed. He now confessed remorse for his plan to sell Joseph into slavery and for the grief it brought his father. Moreover, he wanted to ensure that Jacob would not suffer unto death the additional loss of the second and only other son of his beloved wife, Rachel. Benjamin was Joseph’s younger brother.

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9. Read Genesis 50:15-21 for context. From Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28, what can we conclude about how God works through suffering? What might Paul mean, when he says that all things work for good?

From Genesis 50:20 and Romans 8:28, we can conclude that God works though suffering to produce goodness in our lives. Joseph understood two specific things about God – that God is sovereign and that God is good.1 Looking back, he could see that God had been in control the entire time. He also saw that God used the wickedness of his brothers for good to save lives. When Paul says that all things work for good, we should not take this to mean that what God does, He does for our comfort and/or material prosperity. God’s ultimate goal is to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ, for His glory. We can expect that the road to this goal will sometimes feel uncomfortable. Yet we will experience God’s goodness, when we love (obey) Him. In fulfilling God’s will, we are called according to His purpose.

10. How has holding on to God’s Word encouraged you in times of suffering?

Answers will vary per individual. Holding on to God’s words during times of suffering encourages us to trust in Him completely and to see that He is all we need.

Leader, “live it” are generally designed for individual application after small group time; though, some may be appropriate for group discussion, if desired.

11. Based on the account of Joseph, what encouragement can you give someone who is

currently going through a trial?

Answers will vary and may include: God will be with you and sustain you.

1 Boice, James Montgomery. Genesis: An Expositional Commentary, Vol. 3. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998. Print.

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God has a purpose for the suffering you are enduring. It may take some time, before you learn His purpose.

Your suffering won’t last forever.

12. God has purposefully placed you in communities at home, church, and work to be a blessing and make a difference. Reflecting on Ephesians 2:8-10, what good works has He prepared in advance for you to do in these places?

Answers will vary and may include Reflecting a godly attitude in the midst of your circumstances. Using your God-given gifts and abilities to serve and bless others. Encouraging and helping others through their times of trial and suffering.