Bible Reading
Genesis 37:2–11, 18–28; Genesis 39:1–6; Genesis 45:1–15; Genesis 50:15–21 —
Genesis 37:2–11 (ESV):
2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.
4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more.
6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed:
7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”
8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?”
11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.
Genesis 37:18–28 (ESV):
18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.
19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.
20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.”
22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.
24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.
28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
Genesis 39:1–6 (ESV):
1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
3 His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.
4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.
6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
Genesis 45:1–15 (ESV):
[Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and forgives them.]
Genesis 50:15–21 (ESV):
[Joseph reassures his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”]
Observation Questions
- What were the main reasons Joseph’s brothers hated him, and how did their feelings lead to his being sold into slavery? (Genesis 37:3–8; [05:37])
- In Joseph’s time as a slave and prisoner, what evidence do we see that God was with him, even when his circumstances were difficult? (Genesis 39:2–6; [18:43])
- How did Joseph respond to the temptation from Potiphar’s wife, and what does the text say about his motivation for resisting? (Genesis 39:7–10; [25:24])
- When Joseph finally revealed himself to his brothers, what was his attitude toward them, and what did he say about God’s role in his story? (Genesis 45:4–8; Genesis 50:20; [38:24])
Interpretation Questions
- The sermon points out many parallels between Joseph and Jesus. Why do you think God included these kinds of “types and shadows” in the Old Testament? What does this teach us about God’s plan for redemption? ([13:55])
- Joseph’s success and favor were not tied to his environment but to God’s presence with him. What does this suggest about how believers should view their own circumstances, especially when things are hard? ([18:43])
- Joseph chose to forgive his brothers and bless them, even after all they had done. What does this reveal about the nature of true forgiveness and the heart of God? ([38:24])
- Joseph’s dreams were delayed but not denied. How does his story challenge our understanding of God’s timing and sovereignty in our own lives? ([35:00])
Application Questions
- Joseph’s brothers were jealous and acted out of anger when they saw their father’s favoritism and heard Joseph’s dreams. Have you ever struggled with jealousy or resentment toward someone else’s blessings or dreams? How did you handle it, and what would you do differently now? ([05:37])
- Joseph’s outward sign of favor (the coat) was taken from him, but he still carried the assurance of God’s blessing inside. Is there something in your life that you’ve lost or had taken away that made you question God’s favor? How can you remind yourself that God’s presence is not dependent on your circumstances? ([18:43])
- Joseph resisted temptation and chose integrity, even when no one was watching and it cost him dearly. Is there an area in your life where you are being tempted to compromise your integrity? What would it look like to honor God in that situation this week? ([25:24])
- Joseph forgave his brothers and chose to bless them instead of seeking revenge. Is there someone in your life who has wronged you and needs your forgiveness? What practical step could you take this week to move toward forgiveness or reconciliation? ([38:24])
- The sermon challenges us to trust God’s timing, even when our dreams seem delayed. Is there a dream or desire in your life that feels “on hold” right now? How can you trust God’s sovereignty and timing in that area? ([35:00])
- Joseph was wise about who he shared his dreams with after learning from his early mistakes. Are you careful about who you share your hopes and plans with? How can you be more discerning about this in the future? ([38:24])
- The story reminds us that prosperity is not about our location but about the condition of our hearts. What does “prosperity” look like for you right now, and how can you focus more on your heart’s condition than your outward situation? ([21:29])
