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INTRODUCTION

Background History:

      It is the early days of the Patriarchs. Out of the decline and chaos of the human race following the Creation (see the first in the series, entitled, "In the Beginning"), God chose one man, Abram, who He brought into a relationship with Himself (see, "Abraham's Story").

      Isaac was God's miraculous provision of a son for Abraham and from Isaac came Jacob. Jacob had been a twister who God chose against his older brother, Esau, and gradually drew him into a knowledge of Himself. (see "Jacob's Story").

      Thus there had been three men so far in the family line, who had known the hand of God on them, drawing them into a relationship with Him. The eleventh son of Jacob was Joseph, and he is the subject of our present studies.

 

Watch Out For...

As we go through these studies together watch out for the following:

- the sort of person Joseph is

- the circumstances that force him out of the family

- the hand of God on him throughout

- his life as a slave & his life in prison

- the circumstances that cause his release

- the position he is given in Egypt

- his dealings with his brothers in Egypt

- his family in Egypt

 

     At first you may feel that these are very human circumstances, but watch for the hand of God being revealed in them more and more as the story goes on.  We are going to see God very quietly establish a saviour in Egypt who will be His mouthpiece and who will be the means of preserving Israel 's family in preparation for making them a great nation, the Israelites.

  

    Observing this period of history is essential if we are to understand how Israel came to live in Egypt. More than that it is a most remarkable account of God's activity in preserving His chosen people.

 

PART 1 : Joseph in Trouble

     In these first studies on Joseph, watch and see his downward spiral of disastrous circumstances. It appears to go from bad to worse, but also watch for the hand of God overseeing Joseph's life throughout it all.

Study No.1 : The Future Revealed : Genesis 37:1-11

       

A. Find Out:

      

1. How old was Joseph? v.2

2. What did he tell his father? v.2c

3. What did his father feel about him? v.3

4. What did his brothers feel about this? v.4

5. How did his brothers interpret the first dream? v.8

6. How did his father interpret the second dream? v.10

 

B. Think :

1. In what four ways in this passage did Joseph upset his brothers?

2. How would you describe Joseph from this?

3. How did Israel contribute to this?

 

C. Comment :

      Joseph is Jacob's son by Rachel, the wife Jacob had loved most.  For that reason, now that Rachel has died, Joseph is particularly special to him.   Because of that he appears as what we might call "a spoilt brat"! He tells tales on his brothers, he is given expensive clothing by his father, and when he starts having prophetic dreams he shares them without any thought for his listeners - his brothers, his father and his step mothers.

     In the story of Jacob we found God taking a twister and turning him into a man of faith.  Now in Joseph's case we find God choosing a spoilt brat and transforming him to become a national leader and saviour.

      We tend to look at the outer man, but God looks at the potential!  What Joseph saw in his dream eventually came to be. What his brothers and father understood in the dreams did eventually happen. The dreams were therefore clearly prophetic from the Lord.

     Joseph's problem was that he didn't know how to handle the revelation he received and we should note therefore, that God doesn't give revelation according to maturity but according to calling. Joseph may be a spoilt brat but God gives him His word anyway. He knows Joseph is going to need the assurance of these dreams before much longer, and indeed his reaction to them is going to set off a whole chain of events that will eventually culminate in their fulfilment - but that's a long way off yet!

 

D. Application?

1. Have I been spoilt in my upbringing? What effect has it had on me?

2. Am I available for the Lord to give me revelation?

 

Study No.2 : Plans to Kill Joseph : Genesis 37:12-24

A. Find Out:    

       

1. Why did Israel send Joseph to his brothers? v.14

2. What did his brothers first think to do? v.18

3. How did they refer to Joseph? v.19

4. Who sought to rescue him? v.21

5. What did he suggest? v.22

6. What did they do beforehand? v.23

 

B. Think :

1. What was it that had obviously caused the hatred of the brothers for

     Joseph?

2. Why did they say they would kill him?

3. Why do you think the brothers agreed to Reuben's idea?

 

C. Comment :

      Israel is naive in respect of his sons.  He must, presumably, be blind to their feelings about Joseph, otherwise he might not have put Joseph in a position of danger. Joseph similarly must be blind to the responses he has caused by his attitudes and actions. Exaggerated feelings can make us blind to the truth!

      When the brothers see Joseph coming, their bitterness boils up and their words reveal what has been bubbling deep within them for a long time! Joseph's dreams have obviously upset them and they resolve to do something about it, possibly to show that the dreams are untrue. Exaggerated wrong feelings can provoke us into wrong actions.

      As the brothers go to do this, something in Reuben reacts against it, and he moves to stop the others. They go along with his suggestion not to actually kill Joseph, perhaps because, although they couldn't bring themselves to kill him by violent shedding of blood, they could do it by leaving him to starve in a deep pit in the desert.

     Was the Lord behind Reuben's idea? We aren't told, but it is probable, for when He says Joseph is going to become a ruler, He isn't going to let a bunch of jealous and foolish brothers thwart His plans! Much has yet to happen before this can be, but a ruler he WILL be!

 

D. Application?

1. Do we notice the Lord putting ideas into peoples minds to change the

     course of events sometimes?

2. Do we allow ourselves to speak or work against the plans of God?

 

Study No.3 : Sold to Slave Traders : Genesis 37:25-36

A. Find Out:

       

1. Who "chanced" to be passing by? v.25

2. What did Judah suggest? v.26,27

3. Where was Joseph taken? v.28

4. How did Reuben respond when he returned? v.29,30

5. What did they take back to Jacob? v.31,32

6. What was his response? v.33,34

7. Where did Joseph end up? v.36

 

B. Think :

1. How have the consciences of various brothers helped to save Joseph?

2. How could God have brought these events about to get Joseph to Egypt

    without violating the wills of men?

3. How did the sons lead their father into drawing his own conclusions so

     they didn't actually tell a lie?

 

C. Comment :

      God has a purpose for Joseph in Egypt in the years ahead and He has spoken about him being a leader, so now the Lord has to use the various people concerned to get him there.

      Psalm 105:17 says God sent Joseph into Egypt to prepare for Israel to come there. We are witnessing part of the sovereign purpose of God. The brothers had originally planned on killing Joseph but something in Reuben had felt bad about that and, now that a way out appears over the horizon, Judah also finds something within him that wants to avoid killing Joseph. We would probably call it conscience but it is more likely that the Lord, who is quite able to speak and put thoughts into our minds, was the one who nudged these two brothers into speaking out on Joseph's behalf.

      We see the same thing in Acts 2:23 where God knew what wicked men would do if He provoked the circumstances. He didn't make people crucify Jesus but knew how sin would make them act. God knows all about every one of us and, although He will not force us, He knows how we will react under various circumstances, and so can prompt us to comply with His long-term will.

 

D. Application?

1. Ask the Lord to teach you to be aware of Him moving "behind the scenes"

     in people's lives.

2. Manipulate people or is there purity of motive in all you say and do?

 

Study No.4 : Success from God : Genesis 39:1-6

A. Find Out:

       

1. Who bought Joseph from the slave traders? v.1

2. Why did Joseph prosper? v.2

3. What was the extent of his success? v.3

4. How was Joseph "promoted"? v.4

5. How did Potiphar's home benefit? v.5

6. How did Potiphar benefit? v.6

 

B. Think :

1. Why might Joseph be very unhappy at this time?

2. What, nevertheless, is his attitude to his master?

3. How do you think, in a practical way, did the Lord intervene?

 

C. Comment :

      A remarkable passage.  Joseph, the slave, is sold to a high up official of the court of Egypt. Potentially he is very near to having access to Pharaoh, but he doesn't yet know that that is on God's heart, and so it is very far away.

     Apart from a couple of prophetic dreams (which he might now be doubting) Joseph has no insight into what God is doing! As a slave he could very well have felt totally miserable over his plight, far from home, far from his parents and with no hope for the future. Despite that he clearly works well. If he hadn't worked, God couldn't have blessed him.  Something comes out in Joseph in these circumstances that we might never have dreamt was there when we saw him as the spoilt son at home. He is a worker. He perseveres.   That says much about him. We might not have seen it, but God knew it was there!

     Then the Lord blesses him in all he does and gives him favour in his master's eyes. That means the Lord probably gave him wisdom to know how to do things well. The Lord probably spoke into Potiphar's thoughts and made him aware how good Joseph was.  God has purposes for Joseph in Egypt which he doesn't realise yet. He may think his past dreams are gone, but God is preparing him to fulfil them.  Wow!

 

D. Application?

1. Do we allow the good to prevail in us when the surrounding circumstances

    are bad?

2. Can we see the Lord is with us when the circumstances seem bad?

 

Study No.5 : Overcoming Temptation : Genesis 39:6-12

A. Find Out:

       

1. Why was Potiphar's wife attracted to Joseph? v.6b

2. Against whom did Joseph say he would be going? v.9c

3. How did she persist? v.10

4. Why was there an opportunity this day for her? v.11

5. How did he deal with the temptation? v.12

6. But what did he leave? v.12

 

B. Think :

1. How, from this passage, does temptation start?

2. What means of overcoming temptation are shown? (see v.9,10,12)

3. How do you think Joseph is able to be so strong in resisting it?

 

C. Comment :

     This is a passage that teaches us much about temptation.

     First, HOW PEOPLE FALL TO TEMPTATION:

•   Potiphar's wife first LOOKS (lust of the eyes - 1 John 2:16 ) and likes what she sees.  
•  She then THINKS about him daily.
•  She then takes the OPPORTUNITY.

     Such is the order of all temptation! Be quite clear on this order! Don't let it progress!

     Second, the passage also shows us HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us God will "provide a way out so that you can stand up under it". God will help but we need to stand against it.

•  First Joseph ESTEEMED GOD i.e. he was more concerned about what God felt.
•  Second he AVOIDED CONTACT with the woman whenever he could (see. v.10c).
•  Third he RAN AWAY from the temptation when the greatest opportunity was there for him to give way to it.

     Here is an excellent example to follow. Work on this order!

  

     We need to remember that Joseph was Potiphar's slave and also, therefore, his wife's slave. In refusing her he was putting himself in danger, possibly even the threat of his life.  But Joseph, we see, was committed to God and to righteousness and God will honour him for it.

 

D. Application?

1. Have we learnt the lessons of overcoming temptation: God first, avoid the

    thing, flee from the thing?

2. Overcome wrong thoughts by replacing them with good and righteous

    thoughts from God.

 

Study No.6 : Wrongly Imprisoned : Genesis 39:13-23

A. Find Out:

       

1. What "proof" of her story does Potiphar's wife have? v.15

2. What did Potiphar feel when he was told? v.19

3. Where he did imprison Joseph? v.20

4. How did the Lord help Joseph there? v.21

5. So what did the warder do? v.22

6. Why did he leave it all to Joseph? v.23

 

B. Think :

1. This is the second times coats cause trouble for Joseph. When was the 

     first time?

2. What would it have been that caused Potiphar's wife to act like this?

3. What does this episode in prison tell us about Joseph?

 

C. Comment :

     First, observe TWO UNRIGHTEOUS PEOPLE.  The anger of a scorned woman is often spoken about and Potiphar's wife has been scorned!  One minute desire, the next minute hate to cover up her rejection and sin. Her husband is little better. One minute totally relying on Joseph, the next minute throwing him into prison without a second thought.

      Second, observe GOD'S RIGHTEOUS MAN.  Joseph could have felt bitter and become troublesome, like many are who have been wrongly accused. Instead he is a model prisoner who is seen to be helpful and responsible and he gives us a remarkable example of how to act in adversity. It was because he was being righteousness that he was in prison and once there he carries on acting righteously in a situation that is unfair.

     Third, remember GOD'S SOVEREIGN PURPOSE.  The Lord is still with Joseph, He still has some dreams to fulfil! The Lord prompts the warder in the prison and he soon recognises Joseph's capabilities and, like Potiphar previously, leaves much of his own job in Joseph's care. Joseph shows much wisdom and that brings success in all he does. (James 1:5)

 

D. Application?

1. Do I act righteously when others are being unrighteous to my detriment?

2. Do I allow God's grace to flow through me to be an example of how to cope

     with adversity?

RECAP No.1  "Joseph in trouble"  Genesis 37 & 39

SUMMARY :  

         

In these first 6 studies we have seen:

- Joseph the spoilt son having dreams

- Joseph's brothers plotting to kill him

- The brothers selling him to slave traders

- Joseph being sold on into slavery in Egypt

- God blessing him in his work

- Joseph resisting the overtures of his master's wife

- Joseph falsely accused and thrown into prison

 

COMMENT :

     Things move quickly for Joseph. First he has prophetic dreams that upset his family and set his brothers against him. Then they sell him off into slavery. Not, apparently, good news for this young man, but good news sometimes comes in disguise!

      In slavery in Egypt God blesses him but even that has its drawbacks. It draws the attention of his master's wife from whom he righteously flees. She in her spite brings about his imprisonment. If this is good news it's very heavily disguised, but watch out God is still with him! God has a bigger purpose than individual details!

      We could not have foreseen these events. We could not have foreseen how they would start to draw out of this previously spoilt young man such good reactions. This takes the wisdom of God. We usually see the small bits of history and misunderstand, but with God's help we can learn to see the  'big picture' and gain understanding.

 

LESSONS :

1. God sometimes communicates through dreams

2. Wrong handling of revelation can upset others, so learn to be wise

3. God can order events by putting thoughts into the minds of men

4. We need to learn to see God moving "behind the scenes"

5. God is with us even in apparently bad circumstances

 

PRAY :

      Ask the Lord to open the eyes of your understanding to see Him working out His purposes, even through what is apparently bad.

 

PART 2 : Dreams & Interpretations

      In this next Part continue to observe Joseph's righteous behaviour even in the most difficult of circumstances. Watch also for the divine input of dreams and interpretations that brings release.