|
Genesis 37
1. Genesis 36 focused on Esau and his descendents. Genesis 37 focuses on Jacob and his family. Verse 2 says that we are going to read an account of Jacob, and this account begins with Joseph. Why?
How old was Joseph when this account begins?
What were you like at 17?
What was Joseph doing?
Why do you think this verse mentions that he was with his brothers and lists them as the sons of his father’s wives, Zilpah and Bilhah?
Which wife is not mentioned? Who are her children?
How old would Benjamin be at this time?
2. What do you think was the bad report Joseph brought about his brothers?
What do you think was his reason for doing this?
Can you think of a time when you brought your parents a “bad” report about one of your siblings? What was your motive?
3.
Now that you have stated your interpretation of Joseph’s actions, let us
look at what some of the commentaries say. Title: New Commentary on
the Whole Bible: Old Testament Volume, Third Edition, 1990 states the
following:
What do you think of the statement “oversight or superintendence is evidently implied”?
Do you believe Joseph was acting out of his “superior qualities of character”? Please explain.
The word for “bad” is “rah” in the Hebrew. It means bad, evil, disagreeable, malignant, unpleasant, evil (giving pain, unhappiness, misery). What do you truly believe was behind Joseph’s actions? What are your reasons?
What can we learn about commentaries from this short explanation?
4. Regardless of Joseph’s motivation, what effect do you think this bad report had on his brothers?
What does verse 3 tell us?
What effect would this favoritism on Jacob’s part have on his family?
The brothers know Israel loves Joseph the most. Joseph brings their father a bad report. What do you think was the relationship between Joseph and his brothers? Please explain.
5. What does Israel give Joseph?
Tradition tells us that he gave Joseph a coat of many colors, but the meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain. What can you learn about this “coat” that Jacob gave Joseph?
What was the real significance of this gift?
When Joseph wore this coat, what message would it send to others, including his brothers?
Jacob should have known what parental favoritism would do to a family. Why?
How do you explain Jacob’s actions?
Verse 4 tells us the result of Jacob’s favoritism. What was it?
Some versions state that his brothers could not speak peaceably to him. Others say they could not say a kind word to him. Knowing how much their father loved Joseph, what do you think they said around him?
6. So far, we have focused on Jacob and the brothers. Can we hold Joseph at fault for the relationship with his brothers? Please explain.
Do you think Joseph was bothered by this situation? Please explain.
7. Do you believe God still speaks to us through dreams?
Has God ever “spoken” to you in a dream? Would you mind sharing what God said?
What other people received messages from God through dreams?
What was Joseph’s first dream?
Why do you think he told his brothers?
Just because God gives you a message, does that mean you are to share it immediately? Please explain.
Why might God want us to wait before revealing a particular message?
Some dreams can be difficult to interpret. However, this one does not seem to be one because the brothers seem to know the meaning immediately. Based upon their reaction in verse 8, what did they believe the dream meant?
How do you think you would have reacted if you had been Reuben, Jacob’s first-born son?
What was the result of Joseph’s telling his brothers about his dream?
8. God gives Joseph another dream. What was this dream?
What is the meaning of this dream?
Why do you think God gave Joseph two dreams that were so similar?
This time Joseph not only tells his brothers about the dream but also his father. What was Jacob’s reaction?
What does it mean to you that Jacob rebuked his son? Why did he do this?
After rebuking his son, what did Jacob do? Why do you think he did this?
9. Some time passes. Jacob sends his sons to tend his flocks. He keeps Joseph home. Why did he not send Joseph with them?
Where did they go to graze their father’s sheep? Does it surprise you that they would go there? Please explain.
What do you think the brothers were thinking about as they wandered with the sheep?
Read James 1:20. What does this verse mean to you and how does it apply to this situation?
10. In verse 13 what does Israel ask Joseph to do?
What was Joseph’s mission?
Israel or Jacob had to be aware of the animosity between Joseph and his brothers, yet he sent Joseph anyway. What conclusions can we draw from this?
Does Joseph seem to be worried about going? Please explain.
11. Where does Joseph go first to locate his brothers?
When Joseph could not find his brothers at Shechem, he wandered around the country. What does this mean to you?
Who tells him where to find his brothers? Where does he go next? About how far is Joseph from home? Joseph dutifully fulfills his father’s instructions; yet, he must have known how his brothers felt about him. What does this tell us about Joseph?
12. Verse 18 tells us that the brothers say Joseph while he was still a long way off. How did they recognize him?
What does this fact tell us about the land in this area?
How do the brothers refer to him in verse 19? What do you think they meant by this?
Now we begin to see the result of years of jealousy and sibling rivalry. The brothers devise a plan. What do they want to do with their brother?
According to verse 20 what is another reason they wanted to kill Joseph?
13. Which brother was the only one to try to rescue Joseph?
Of all the brothers who would stand to benefit most from Joseph’s death? Please explain.
What does Reuben suggest they do to Joseph? What is his reason behind this suggestion?
What is a cistern?
What does this episode tell us about Reuben?
14. What do the brothers do when Joseph arrives?
Why do you think they tore off his coat?
What do you think Joseph was thinking as he lay at the bottom of the cistern?
If you were Joseph, would you have a difficult time seeing this as the fulfillment of the dream God had given to you? Please explain.
15. What do the brothers do after they throw Joseph into the cistern?
What does this tell us about them?
As the brothers are sitting there, who approaches?
Who were the Ishmaelites?
Whose idea was it to sell Joseph?
What is ironic about Joseph’s being sold to the Ishmaelites?
16. What do you think Joseph was feeling as he waited at the bottom of that cistern?
What do you think would be the hardest part about being betrayed by your own family?
17. Which brother wanted to sell Joseph and at least gain a little from their plan?
What do you know about this brother?
Why did he want to sell Joseph?
Can you think of someone else who wanted to keep his hands clean so he would appear innocent?
What does it tell you about the brothers that they were more interested in being legally innocent than in honoring their father?
For how much did they sell Joseph?
18. Where was Reuben during this transaction?
What did he do when he learned that Joseph was no longer in the cistern?
What can you learn about the significance of tearing one’s clothes? What does this tell us about Reuben?
Once again, we see the pattern of deception. Reuben does not want to tell his father the truth. To avoid this, what plan does Reuben devise?
What exactly do they say to Jacob when they return home? In what way did they deceive him?
What conclusion does Jacob reach concerning Joseph?
19. When he believes his son is dead, what does Jacob do?
After their father mourns for several days, what do all Jacob’s sons and daughters do?
What does it mean to you that Jacob refused to be comforted?
What does Jacob tell his family?
What do you think the brothers were feeling as they watched their father in misery over the loss of Joseph?
20. What eventually happens to Joseph?
At this point in Joseph’s life, God would seem to be absent: Joseph sold into slavery; his brothers fake his death; they lie to their father. How would you explain God’s presence so far?
Does God’s silence mean His approval or His absence? Please explain.
Can you think of a time when God seemed “silent” in your life but was still very present?
|