Podcast

Yesterday, Joseph’s brothers left Joseph.  He send back the money again and puts his silver cup in Benjamin’s sack.  Joseph has the brothers arrested and threatens to keep Benjamin as a slave.  Judah pleads with Joseph to stay in Benjamin’s place because it would kill their father.  Let’s see what happens next in Genesis chapter 45.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you see God working in this chapter?
2. Our God is a God of restoration and reconciliation.  Where are you in need of this in your life?  How might this passage give you – or someone you know – hope?
3. Spend the next few minutes reflecting on what you learned and then  thank Him for who He is.

Yesterday, we left Simeon in prison as Jacob wrestled with the decision of letting his family starve or sending Benjamin back to Egypt with his brothers. 

Jacob relies on his old ways of sending gifts to get himself out of trouble, and he doubles the money for grain to replace what was returned.  When the brothers arrived in Egypt, they were welcomed into Joseph’s palace for a feast. 

His brothers don’t really understand what is happening and were paranoid it was a trap.  They come clean about the money and are set at ease by the palace manager.  Then, Simeon is released and they all enjoy a feast. 

Let’s see what happens next in Genesis chapter 44.

Reflection Questions

1. Recap the story in your own words.
2. Why do you think Joseph did what he did?
3. Joseph’s plan required patience and wisdom.  His first test was to get all his brother’s present and to see if they had changed their ways.  Joseph knew they would eventually get hungry and need his help again, so he had to wait it out.  What did his brothers’ behavior show Joseph?
4. Where does this chapter point you to Jesus?
5. How do you need to respond?

Yesterday, a famine drove Jacob to send all his sons except Benjamin to Egypt for grain.  When the brothers arrived, they did not recognize Joseph, but he recognized them.  Joseph accuses them of being spies and puts them in prison.  The brothers think they are being punished for what they did to Joseph, and when he overhears them, he is moved to tears.  He has compassion on them and sends all but Simeon back home to get Benjamin.  He gave them grain and supplies and secretly gave their money back.  When the brothers arrive home, Jacob refuses to let them take Benjamin for fear something terrible will happen to him.  Let’s continue with Genesis chapter 43.

Reflection Questions

1. What stood out to you?  Did anything surprise you?
2. Where did humans fail in this chapter?  Why?
3. Where do you s ee God working?  What does that teach  you about who he  is?
4. How do you need to respond in light of what you learned?

Yesterday…we celebrated with Joseph as God redeemed his situation and placed him in the second highest position in the land.  It was wonderful.  However, as the chapter closed, we saw the heartache and grief still in his heart through the names of his children, Manasseh and Ephraim.  Let’s continue in Genesis chapter 42.

Reflection Questions

1. Put yourself in Joseph’s sandals.  Remember your most painful neutral.  What would it feel like to have your betrayer come to you for help?  How would you respond?
2. Joseph remembered the dreams he’d had about his brothers years before as he the dream fulfilled.  What do you think was going through his head?  What  would be going through yours?
3. How do you need to  respond in light of this passage? 

References: 
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LLHX2QH

Over the last month, we’ve heard about the creation story, the fall of mankind, and its continual bend towards corruption.  Despite mankind’s bend toward destruction, we saw God promise a seed – a man – that would one day crush evil’s head. 

The thread of promises continues throughout the book of Genesis.  He made a covenant with Abraham to give him land and countless descendants that would bless all the inhabitants of the earth. 

God’s covenant with Abraham continued through to his son, Isaac, and Isaac’s son, Jacob.  Genesis 37-50 focuses on Jacob’s sons and, in particularly, his son Joseph.  In his late teens, Joseph had two dreams – that one day his brothers and his father would bow before him.   And almost as soon as he had those dreams, his story went in the opposite direction.  His brothers sold him into slavery because of their hatred, and he eventually landed himself in prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  In our last episode, we found Joseph – not as a dreamer but as an interpreter of dreams.  And then, he was forgotten by those he helped but God  did not forget.  Let’s pick up in Genesis 41.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do you  see God working in this chapter?
2. Think about your  life – where have you seen God similarly on display?
3. Is there a situation where you feel forgotten, or a situation where you need favor?  Use the next few minutes to ask  God for his favor and to witness his  faithfulness in your own life.

Yesterday, we saw God give favor to Joseph in his captivity.  Let’s continue his story in Genesis chapter 40.

Reflection Questions

1.  What stood out to you  in today’s reading?  What surprised you?

2.  Use the next few minutes to thing through any  questions you  have about this  passage. 

3.  Where did you see God working?  What does it tell you  about who He is?