Joseph

 

Now that the Christmas season is over, the calendar is showing a New Year, I want to encourage you to think back over your time with your family. Durning this moment of reflection you might think “I love the time with family! They are the best!” Or you might be thinking “I love it that my time with family is over! I’m ready to spend time friends and co-workers!” We laugh at just the changing of a few words, but there is truth there.  We can not wait for the season and time with family, but when it’s over…well it’s over!

In the Old Testament we see God using a very dysfunctional family for very significant portions of his plan for mankind.  Joseph has so much more to his biblical account than just a very colorful coat. He had a father that protected him, brothers that look to disown him, and relationships were complex and difficult at best. Over the next few weeks we’ll walk with Joseph through the mess of a dysfunctional family, through the pain of adversity and through the challenge of temptation. We’ll root for Joseph through discouragement and delay. We’ll marvel at God pulling Joseph out of the pit and into prosperity. We’ll be humbled by Joseph’s heart to forgive. And in the end, we’ll stand as witnesses of what God can do through a life faithful to the end.

God’s control of all things will continue to amaze us, encourage us and remind us that He is waiting to use us and a family just like ours!

mas season is over, the calendar is showing a New Year, I want to encourage you to think back over your time with your family. Durning this moment of reflection you might think “I love the time with family! They are the best!” Or you might be thinking “I love it that my time with family is over! I’m ready to spend time friends and co-workers!” We laugh at just the changing of a few words, but there is truth there.  We can not wait for the season and time with family, but when it’s over…well it’s over!

In the Old Testament we see God using a very dysfunctional family for very significant portions of his plan for mankind.  Joseph has so much more to his biblical account than just a very colorful coat. He had a father that protected him, brothers that look to disown him, and relationships were complex and difficult at best. Over the next few weeks we’ll walk with Joseph through the mess of a dysfunctional family, through the pain of adversity and through the challenge of temptation. We’ll root for Joseph through discouragement and delay. We’ll marvel at God pulling Joseph out of the pit and into prosperity. We’ll be humbled by Joseph’s heart to forgive. And in the end, we’ll stand as witnesses of what God can do through a life faithful to the end.

God’s control of all things will continue to amaze us, encourage us and remind us that He is waiting to use us and a family just like ours!

 
 
 

His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said. Gen 37:8

    • What comes to mind when you hear the word family?

    • Looking at the text, what parenting mistakes did Jacob make?

    • What can cause dysfunction in a family? What happened because of Joseph’s presence in this family? It’s important to note that Joseph being in this family didn’t create problems rather what happens is his role in the family reveal the problems and dysfunction. 

    • In Genesis 38 Judah is first introduced. Judah makes a series of poor choices that appears to be fueled by pain and personal enjoyment. Why is it when emotions are high we tend to defend and look out for ourselves?

    • Matthew 1:1-3.  When we begin reading the New Testament it is easy to skip over all the names. Take a moment to look at the list; God chose a man on a path of poor choices, who sleep with his son’s wife in sin, to be in the direct lineage of Jesus, our Messiah.  What does all of this reveal about God?

The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered…Genesis 39:2

    • What provided success for Joseph?

    • Has there been a time in your life when you felt the “favor of The Lord?”

    • Genesis 39:6-18, How is the character of Joseph developing. 

    • Often integrity comes at a cost. Sometimes the most difficult temptation to overcome is the temptation to lose hope and give in to discouragement.

    • Look at Genesis 40:1-8. What role to Pharaoh fulfill at this point in the account?

    • There has been a request of the cup-bearer (vs.14) and what was his response (vs. 23). Joseph was so close to being released, but again was denied.  When you know that you are about to receive something but it is removed at the last minute, how do you respond?

    • Temptation is coming

      • Anticipate it.

      • Be responsible.

      • Seek God’s help.

      • Confide in a friend.

      • Stay clear of tempting situations.

    • How much time has past since the cup-bearer “forgot” Joseph?

    • Gen 41:16-36, What does Joseph confess to Pharaoh that shows his heart is still complexity God’s?

    • Are you confident that God will provide when you are tempted?

    • A change takes place with Joseph. Read Gen. 41:37-57. 

    • Genesis 42 we read that Jacob is frustrated with his boys. “Why do you just keep looking at each other?” The family secrets for the past 20yrs surely has created so much animosity.  Why do we allow things to linger when it comes to family?

    • Genesis 42:26-38 fear becomes real. Both the brothers and Jacob are afraid.  How did they respond to their fear? How do you respond to fear?

 
 
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