Genesis Bible Study: Lesson 7 of 7

GOD WAS WITH JOSEPH

Genesis 37:1-50:26

Key Verse 45:5

** The Lord Was With Joseph (37:1-41:57) 

1. Read 37:1-36.  Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him (1-11)?  What did Joseph’s brothers plan to do to him (20)?  How did Reuben try to rescue him (21-22)?  How did Judah lead his brothers to sell Joseph as a slave (26-28)?  What did they lead their father to believe (31-33)?  

2. Read 38:1-30.  Why do you think Judah left his brothers (1)?  How did Judah lose his first two sons (6-10)?  Why was Judah afraid to let his youngest son marry Tamar (11)?  What might Judah have learned through these experiences (cf. 37:34-35)?  How did Tamar get Judah to fulfill his duty to her?  Why is the son who came from this union important (cf. Mt 1:1-3)?  

3. Read 39:1-40:23.  How did Joseph prosper as a slave (39:2-6)?  Yet how did Joseph end up in prison (7-20)?  How did Joseph prosper in prison (21-23)?  How did Joseph help Pharaoh’s cupbearer and Baker (40:1-22)?  Yet how did the chief cupbearer repay Joseph (40:23)?  How do you think Joseph could endure so many injustices?  

4. Read 41:1-57.  How did Joseph come to Pharaoh’s attention (1-14)?  What did Joseph tell Pharaoh (15-36)?  What position did Pharaoh give Joseph (37-46)?  What did Joseph do in this position (47-49)?  What was Joseph’s testimony when his two sons were born (50-52)?  What can you learn from Joseph?  

** It Was to Save Lives that God Sent Me (42:1-50:26)

5. Read 42:1-45:8.  What did Joseph do when his brothers came to Egypt to get food (42:6-9)?  Briefly outline what Joseph put his brothers through.  How did they interpret what was going on (42:21-22, 28; 44:16)?  How did Joseph feel when he saw his brothers and their distress (43:23-24; 30-31; 45:1-2)?  What was the fruit of all that Joseph put his brothers through (44:16-34)?  Why wasn’t Joseph bitter toward his brothers for selling him as a slave (45:4-8)?  

6. Read 45:9-48:22.  How did God use Joseph to help fulfill his promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (45:11, 17-18; 46:1-6, 33-34; 47:11-12; cf. Ge 15:13)?  How was Joseph’s way of distributing food to the people during the years of famine wise (47:13-26)?  What promise did Jacob ask Joseph to make (47:27-31)?  What can you learn from Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh? 

7. Read 49:1-50:26.  Why did Jacob not give favorable blessings to his first three sons (49:1-7)?  What is the significance of Judah’s blessing (8-12)?  What was the significance of Jacob’s burial in the cave in the field of Machpelah (49:29-50:14)?  What did Joseph’s brothers fear after Jacob’s death (50:15-17)?  How did Joseph reassure them (19-21)?  What was Josephs’ final request (24-25)?    

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