The Real OT
Joseph & His Brothers
in Egypt
The BIG
Idea Team, Individual and Family Study Guide
Please take time to run
through this study guide with your team, on your own, or with your family so
that you can further apply and process the BIG Idea.
Big Idea:
We can
find peace and joy in knowing God is working for good in our lives no matter
what happens.
Key Verse:
Read
Genesis 50:19 – 21 (The Message)
Joseph replied,
"Don't be afraid. Do I act for God? Don't you see, you planned evil
against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you
right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I'll take
care of you and your children." He reassured them, speaking with them
heart-to-heart.
The Scoop:
Most of
the time we don’t like rules and we for sure never understood why our parents
set some of the boundaries they did at the time. On the outside looking in, we can usually see the reasons
for certain rules unless they are being applied to us. As a parent, we wouldn’t watch our kid
playing in the street and not do something about it. No matter how bad the child wants to play in the street, we
have information that the child does not have, and it would actually be neglect
if we didn’t do something about it.
You can be sure that God is not neglecting you.
Yet,
the story of Joseph turns logic and traditional cause and effect on its
head. Through the story of Joseph,
we learn how God can take even the most painful situations and use them for His
glory. Ultimately, what God did
for Joseph and his family is what God is continuing to do through us today.
It
seems Joseph was able to look over his life with the humble reality that he
never would have the position and power and favor with God had he not been
separated from his father, sold into slavery, falsely accused by Potphar’s
wife, and forgotten in prison. We
can trust from this story that when we live our lives by submitting to the will
of God, no circumstance we face in life will be exempt from bringing God glory.
1.
What are some
examples of things that you respond differently today than you would have as a
child?
2.
What does
Joseph's reply in the verse above reveal about his relationship with God?
3.
James refers
to trials as a gift. What does it look like to view the trials in your life as
a gift?
What’s
Next? (take home/further processing/application)
Take
time to encourage others with how you see God at work in their lives.
·
This week
spend some time with the story of Joseph.
Try to identify with the difficulties he faced.
·
Set some time
aside this week to search your heart and allow God to reveal any grudges you
might be holding against someone.
Ask God to give you the freedom to respond as Joseph did with kindness
and compassion.
·
Share with one
other person a trial in your life.
Ask them to pray for you this week to be able to find joy as you see how
God can redeem the situation.
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