Essential 100

Week Three : The Story of Joseph

11.    Sold Into Slavery (Genesis 37:1-36)

What causes tension and conflict in your family, or in families you know?

What’s the best way to resolve family conflict?

12.    Prison and a Promotion (Genesis 39:1-41:57)

Have you ever been unfairly put in a tough situation?  When and what happened?

Have you ever learned an important lesson from an unfair or tough situation?

13.    Ten Brothers Go to Egypt (Genesis 42:1-38)

Why do you think people hide their true feelings?  Do you? 

In what situations would you feel comfortable sharing “the real you”?

14.    The Brothers Return (Genesis 43:1-44:34)

How should a person deal with unresolved hurts from the past?

How could you help others who are struggling with past hurts?

15.    Joseph Reveals His Identity (Genesis 45:1-46:7)

Are there issues in your past that still drive you today? 

Is the effect positive or negative?

What lessons have you learned from the life of Joseph?   

Pastor's Meditation for the Week:

Oh Brother!

 “Let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, after all he is our brother.” Thanks to brotherly love Joseph’s fate was better than a slow death in a pit. But it still was a far cry from the pampered life Joseph was living. The thread running through this drama of sibling revelry  is the redemptive reconciliatory nature of God who keeps promises. The Lord had made a promise to Joseph’s great grandfather Abraham and the promise was going to be kept despite the hatred of Joseph’s  brothers. So much of God’s work in us is done in spite of the plans of others. Others, unfortunately,  often includes ourselves.

Sometime during his sojourn in Egypt Joseph must have realized this truth. When his brothers showed up hungry and begging, he offered grace and mercy. He said to them, “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.” Gen. 45:5 This story is one of the classic scriptural illustrations of “God working everything out for the good,” Rms. 8:28  In spite of fussing brothers, the Lord works out his redemptive plan. This is such a comfort to me. It is so great when I am able to back away from the circumstances and events of my life and know deep within that the Lord will work everything  out for my spiritual good. So next time you are in a situation that puts you in the pit. The next time you sigh and say, “Oh, brother!”, remember, God will work it out. Trust the Lord to do just that.

Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim