Part 2: Joseph's Story - "Into the Trials" (Genesis 37:3–36)

Genesis 37 opens the door to a story that is both familiar and deeply unsettling. Joseph’s life, often romanticized in childhood retellings, actually begins in a family marked by dysfunction, favoritism, and rivalry. Jacob’s open preference for Joseph, the son of his beloved Rachel, sets the stage for division and jealousy among the brothers. Joseph himself, far from being a model of humility, displays youthful arrogance—boasting about his dreams and acting as the family informant. If God had elevated Joseph to leadership at this stage, he would have been ill-equipped, lacking the maturity and character needed to steward such responsibility.

Yet, the story takes a dark turn as Joseph’s brothers, driven by envy, plot to kill him. Instead, they sell him into slavery and deceive their father with a bloodied robe. The pain Joseph experiences is not the result of distant enemies, but of those closest to him—his own family. This is a sobering reminder that some of our deepest wounds come from those we expect to love us most. In the pit, stripped of his security and future, Joseph is utterly alone. But even in this hidden, painful place, God is not absent.

God does not author the evil in Joseph’s story—He does not cause the betrayal or the injustice. But He allows it, and in His sovereignty, He redeems it. God weaves even the broken threads of human sin and suffering into His larger tapestry of redemption. This is not to say that wrong becomes right, or that pain is trivialized. Rather, God’s faithfulness is such that He can bring good out of what was meant for harm. Joseph’s journey from the pit to the palace is not a story of instant triumph, but of God’s quiet, persistent presence in the unknown.

This pattern is echoed throughout Scripture, culminating in the story of Jesus, who was betrayed and crucified by human hands, yet whose suffering became the means of salvation for many. When life unravels and the future is uncertain, the call is not to understand every step, but to trust God’s heart and take the next right step. Weakness and uncertainty become the very places where God’s strength is revealed. The invitation is to obedience in the present, trusting that God is working—even when we cannot see it.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s Work Begins in Messy Places God often initiates His greatest work in the midst of dysfunction, pain, and hiddenness. Joseph’s story begins not in a place of strength or clarity, but in a family torn by favoritism and rivalry. This reminds us that God is not limited by our broken beginnings; He meets us in the mess and starts His redemptive work there. [06:21]
• 2. God Does Not Author Evil, But He Redeems It While God does not cause the jealousy, betrayal, or injustice in Joseph’s life, He allows these things and ultimately weaves them into His purposes. This does not excuse sin or minimize suffering, but it magnifies God’s ability to bring good out of evil. Our pain and the wrongs done to us are not wasted in God’s hands. [18:33]
• 3. The Deepest Wounds Often Come from Those Closest to Us Joseph’s greatest betrayal came not from enemies, but from his own brothers. Many of us know the pain of being wounded by those we love. Yet, even in these moments of profound loss and isolation, God’s presence is steadfast, and He is able to use even these wounds as part of His redemptive plan. [19:47]
• 4. Weakness and Dependence Are the Soil of Spiritual Growth Joseph’s journey is marked by repeated setbacks and losses, each one stripping away his self-sufficiency. It is in these places of weakness that he—and we—learn to lean harder on God. Spiritual strength is not found in self-reliance, but in deeper dependence on God’s faithfulness and provision. [26:42]
• 5. Faithfulness Means Taking the Next Right Step, Not Knowing the Whole Plan God rarely reveals the entire path ahead. Instead, He calls us to obedience in the present—to do the next right thing, even when the future is unclear. Trusting God in uncertainty is not about having all the answers, but about being faithful with what we know to do today, believing that God is working out His purposes in ways we cannot yet see. [29:30]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:02] - A Funny Start: Playing Joseph in College
• [03:21] - Faith in the Unknown: Series Introduction
• [05:13] - The Real Joseph: Messy Family Dynamics
• [06:56] - Jacob’s Favoritism and Its Consequences
• [08:43] - Joseph’s Dreams and Immaturity
• [11:10] - Joseph Sent to His Brothers
• [12:29] - Joseph’s Character Flaws
• [13:45] - Betrayed and Sold by His Brothers
• [18:33] - God’s Hand in the Midst of Sin
• [19:47] - Betrayed by Family: Relating to Joseph’s Pain
• [21:30] - God Begins Work in Hidden, Painful Places
• [22:58] - God Weaves Redemption Through Brokenness
• [24:49] - The Larger Redemption Story: From Joseph to Jesus
• [26:42] - Weakness as the Place of God’s Strength
• [29:30] - Taking the Next Right Step
• [33:20] - Trusting God in the Unknown

Bible Reading

Genesis 37:1-36 (ESV) — (Read the full chapter together, focusing on the family dynamics, Joseph’s dreams, his brothers’ betrayal, and Joseph being sold into slavery.)

Acts 2:22-24 (ESV) — “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

Observation Questions

1. What are some of the signs of dysfunction and favoritism in Joseph’s family as described in Genesis 37? How do these family dynamics set the stage for what happens to Joseph? [[06:21]]
2. How does Joseph act towards his brothers, and how do his actions and dreams affect their feelings toward him? [[09:19]]
3. What do Joseph’s brothers do to him, and how do they cover up their actions to their father Jacob? [[16:09]]
4. According to Acts 2:22-24, who was responsible for Jesus’ death, and how does Peter describe God’s role in what happened?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God did not elevate Joseph to a position of leadership when he was still young and immature? What might have happened if Joseph had been given power too soon? [[13:45]]
2. The sermon says, “God does not author the evil in Joseph’s story—He does not cause the betrayal or the injustice. But He allows it, and in His sovereignty, He redeems it.” What does this mean about God’s character and how He works in the world? [[18:33]]
3. Joseph’s deepest wounds came from his own family, not from strangers. Why do you think pain from those closest to us can be so difficult to process? [[19:47]]
4. In Acts 2, Peter says Jesus was “delivered up according to God’s definite plan,” but also that “you crucified and killed him.” How can both human responsibility and God’s sovereignty be true at the same time?

Application Questions

1. The sermon points out that God often begins His greatest work in messy, hidden, or painful places. Is there a “messy” or painful area in your life right now where you need to trust that God is at work? What would it look like to invite God into that place? [[21:30]]
2. Have you ever experienced betrayal, hurt, or disappointment from someone close to you, like Joseph did? How did you respond, and what did you learn about God’s presence in that season? [[19:47]]
3. The story of Joseph shows that God can redeem even the worst situations. Is there a part of your story that you struggle to believe God could use for good? What would it look like to surrender that to Him? [[22:58]]
4. The sermon says, “Weakness and dependence are the soil of spiritual growth.” In what area of your life do you feel weak or out of control right now? How might God be inviting you to depend on Him more deeply? [[26:42]]
5. When you face uncertainty or don’t know what the future holds, do you tend to freeze, try to control everything, or something else? What is one “next right step” you sense God is asking you to take this week, even if you don’t know the whole plan? [[29:30]]
6. The sermon mentions that God doesn’t need your strength, but your dependence and obedience. What is one area where you need to stop striving in your own strength and instead trust and obey God today? [[29:30]]
7. Think about a time when you saw God bring good out of a painful or unjust situation in your life or someone else’s. How did that experience shape your faith? How can you encourage someone else who is in a “pit” right now? [[24:49]]