Genesis Lesson 17
THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH
Genesis 37:1-41:57
Key verse 39:2,3
Joseph was a Dreamer (37:1-38:30)
Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him (37:1-4)? Why did they grow to hate him even more (5-9)? How was Jacob’s response different (10,11)? What did God reveal through Joseph’s dreams?
What was Joseph’s attitude toward the errand given him (12-17)? What does this show about his stewardship? What hardship did Joseph’s dreams bring him (18-28, 36)? How must have Joseph suffered (Ge 42:21)? How did his brothers sin here? What about Jacob’s agony over his lost son (29-35)?
How did Judah have Perez and Zerah by Tamar (38:1-30)? What kind of man does this show Judah to be? Why would the author include this event?
Joseph’s Suffering (39:1-40:23)
Where was Joseph sold (39:1)? How might he have overcome his desperate situation? To what degree had Joseph prospered (2-6a)? What was the basic reason for his success and prosperity?
What kind of temptation did Joseph face (6b-7)? How did he overcome this temptation (8-12)? What trouble did this put him in (13-20)? Compared with his enslavement, how was this more difficult to endure? How did God help Joseph at this time (21-23)?
How did Joseph serve Pharoah’s cup bearer despite his own misery? (40:1-8)? How did Joseph interpret each of their dreams (9-22)? Why did Joseph have to keep suffering hardship (23)? What did God want Joseph to become through hardship?
Joseph Became a Prime Minister (41:1-57)
Describe Pharaoh’s dream (41:1-8). How and when did Joseph go before Pharaoh (9-14)? How did Joseph interpret Pharaoh’s dream (17-31)? What did Joseph advise Pharaoh to do (33-36)?
In the end what status did Joseph gain, and how did he accomplish the mission entrusted him (37-49, 53-57)? What did Joseph confess after he had his two sons (50-52)? Think about how Joseph remembered God even at the most successful point in his career. How could Joseph curb his pride?