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1. Following a time of relative peace in Joseph’s family, what message does Joseph receive?
What do you think Joseph was feeling when he received this message?
Whom did Joseph take with him to visit his father?
Why did he take them with him?
What effect did it have on Jacob when he heard Joseph had come?
2. What is the first thing Jacob said to his son Joseph?
How does he refer to God? Why do you think he used this name?
What does the name God Almighty or El Shaddai mean to you?
What happened to Jacob at Luz?
Why do you think Jacob begins with this aspect of his life?
Can you recall a past event that still helps to strengthen your faith?
3. According to verse 4, what words of God does Jacob recall?
What specific promises are contained in this statement?
How do these promises pertain to Joseph?
4. What does Jacob say next concerning Joseph’s two sons?
What does it mean that the two sons will be Jacob’s?
If you were Jacob, how would you react to this?
What significance does this hold for Ephraim and Manasseh? (Look again at verse 4.)
Who were Reuben and Simeon?
What is the significance in Jacob’s saying that Joseph’s two sons will be his just as Reuben and Simeon are his?
5. What does Jacob tell Joseph about any other sons Joseph may have?
What does verse 6 mean to you concerning the future inheritance of Joseph’s children?
Next, Jacob gives us a clue as to why he is giving Joseph a double portion. What does he reveal in verse 7?
6. Why do you think Joseph does not recognize Joseph’s two sons?
When Jacob learns they are Joseph’s children, what does he have Joseph do?
What does Jacob do when the two sons are brought to him?
What emotions is Jacob feeling? (See verse 11.)
7. Following Jacob’s show of affection, what does Joseph do?
Joseph now presents his sons to Jacob to be blessed. What does he do?
Why does he place Ephraim on his right and Manasseh on his left?
However, Jacob surprises Joseph. What does Jacob do?
8. With his hands on Ephraim and Manasseh, Jacob first blesses Joseph. When he does, Jacob refers to God in three ways. What are these three ways?
What does each of these mean to you?
What was Joseph’s blessing?
9. What did Joseph do when he saw what his father was doing?
Why was Joseph displeased?
What does Joseph say to his father?
Why do you think Jacob refused, and what did he mean when he said, “I know, my son, I know”?
What does Jacob tell Joseph concerning the two sons?
How many other times was the younger blessed ahead of the older?
How did Jacob bless Ephraim and Manasseh?
How did he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh?
10. In verse 20, the pronoun “your” is singular. To whom is it referring?
In verse 21, the pronouns “you” and “your” are plural. To whom are they referring?
What does Jacob say to Joseph in verse 21?
Read verse 22 very carefully. What does Jacob mean when he says Joseph is one who is over his brothers? (How do other versions read?)
What does Jacob give to Joseph?
The word for ridge or portion of land is the word “shekem.” Why is this significant? |