Joseph: Genesis 50:15-26 "Finishing Well"

Read Genesis 50:15-26.

"But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?'" NIV

After all they had been through with Joseph, the brothers were still afraid of him and the retribution he could wield. I'm amazed that they hadn't seen him for who he really had become. But they had seen his dreams come true. I suppose that would bring fear to anyone. They also probably suffered from a lot of guilt over what they had done to Joseph and their father. Now that Jacob's protection was gone, Joseph could use his power to get revenge. But he didn't.

Joseph had found amazing forgiveness and healing over the years. He chose to see the situation for what God had done with it rather than dwelling in the midst of his suffering. How easy would it have been for Joseph to have all his brothers thrown in prison for the remainder of their lives? He'd have not only gotten rid of them, but gained all their wealth as well. But Joseph was not the man they thought he had become. The scars remained, but the heart was pure.

How often do we choose to hang onto the scars and bitterness of our past? The damage that causes affects so many aspects of our lives -- physical well-being, relationships, most importantly the hardness of our hearts and our relationship with the Father. Forgiveness sets us free from the bondage of our hurt and allows us to move in step with the Father, not with the past.

Further Thoughts:

1. Are you hanging onto bitterness in your life? 
   
2. How does Joseph reflect Jesus and his future suffering?
   
3. How was Joseph a big-picture thinker?
   
4. Write down some thoughts about Joseph's life and how his example can help you grow?

Joseph: Genesis 48:1-50:14 "Jacob's Blessing"

Read Genesis 48:1-50:14.

"All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them when he blessed them, giving each the blessing appropriate to him." NIV

I can't read this passage without thinking about the legacy left to our children. Jacob looked at each of his sons, and what they had done and what they could do showed him what ways he could bless their future. Jacob blessed them with really a continuation of the life they had already built. They had made choices, and Jacob noted those choices as the destiny of their life. He also established the location of their tribe and provided a glimpse into their future.

As parents, we must know our children. Their individual personalities will take them on very different paths. It's our job to bless the talents and gifts that God has given to each of our children and encourage them to use those gifts to God's honor and glory. I doubt my children will be leaders of nations life Jacob's sons. That was a blessing that had been passed down from Abraham. But each of our children can have a great impact on the world for the glory of God. They can be leaders of the Christian nation if God so chooses to bless them in that way.

Our children need our blessing, encouragement, guidance, and love to follow the path the God has for them to live. That's my greatest job -- to be an example and guide to my children as the Lord would have me to be. I know God has a lot of other jobs of service He wants me to complete. But discipling those three children is my first job. And what a joy to bless my children with the love of our Father and the hope of a future with Him.

Further Thoughts:

1. What blessing are you passing on to your children? (You may have not come from a believing family, but the legacy can begin with you. You can be the Abraham your children need to follow.)
   
2. What parallel do we see elsewhere in the Old Testament with the blessing of Joseph's sons and the younger being blessed above the older? Also, how does that compare with Joseph's own life?
   
3. What role does being an example have in passing along a legacy to our children? What do you need to do better?
   

Joseph: Genesis 47:1-31 "Joseph's Calling"

Read Genesis 47:1-31.

"So Joseph settled his father and his brothers in Egypt and gave them property...." NIV

You can't read this and not be amazed at where Joseph has come to date. He began as a lowly shepherd boy -- granted, spoiled by his father -- but of lowly birth in Canaan. Now he has risen to a powerful position in another country and is saving the people from starvation. Oh, to have a Joseph in the United States right now. Someone to clearly see the need and meet the needs of the people. Is the plight of the Canaanites and the Egyptians where we are heading? Will we come to drastic measures to survive? It's possible. But as God had made sure Joseph was in the right place at the right time to do His work, so God will have His people taken care of in His timing and His way. Many of us already feel that God is allowing the difficulties of today stir in the hearts of the people of the church to actually be the people again. Maybe we are the Joseph they are looking for....

Although the Canaanites, I'm sure, felt terribly abandoned by their God, He'd never stopped working on their behalf. Here they were in a foreign land, starving, forced to sell the land they had been given and their service to Egypt for food. The promised land must have seemed very far away, and it was in human eyes. But in the eyes of the Almighty and His power. the promised land was merely a step away. God had some lessons to teach His people that required they begin in slavery.

How often do we feel like God is far away? Maybe we don't think He hears us or even cares about what's happening to us. But He never leaves us alone. His actions are always in step with His plan. If we have to endure hardship, it's because there are lessons to be learned and good will prevail in the end if we are faithful. His greatest desire is for us to love and trust Him in obedience. That's it. All the good and bad in life is secondary to loving and trusting our Father.

Joseph knew that. He had seen good times and bad ones. He wasn't living where he belonged, so God brought his family to him. He wasn't living the life he was supposed to be living, so God raised him up to second in all of Egypt. Sometimes, what doesn't make any sense to us is exactly what is needed to fulfill the Father's plan.

Trust and obey

For there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus

But to trust and obey.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you feel very far from your promised land? Either God has some lessons for you to learn, or maybe He's redefining your promised land.
   
2. Has the church become lazy? How can we be the Joseph our nation so desperately needs?
   

Joseph: Genesis 46:1-34 "Humor and Assurance"

Read Genesis 46:1-34.

"I am God, the God of your father," he said, "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again." NIV

Okay, there are a couple good lessons from this passage, but I have to get out of my system the humorous portions before I can look at the serious.

1) Can you hear Levi's son saying, "I'm Gershon from Goshen."

2) So were Benjamin's sons twins? Seriously, Muppim, and Huppim? Sounds like Sesame Street.

3) Was Dan's son a noisy child and Dan just couldn't take it any more? ("Hushim," say it out loud.)

4) So Jacob brings his household of 66 to a foreign land because his son, who he thought was dead, said so. He gets to Goshen and his son instructs his father on how to talk to Pharaoh and tell his occupation ending with this statement, "Then you will be allowed to settle in the region of Goshen, for all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians." Oh, wow, so glad you brought us here, son. Couldn't have said something before now about the whole detestable thing? .... Is it me, or does God have a great sense of humor?

Alright, now back to the real lessons here. I always find it so comforting when God affirms our decisions. God totally puts Jacob, an old man by now and probably not interested in change, especially if it means leaving the land of his fathers, at ease about this move. He assures him that He will be with them; they will be made into a great nation; they will come back to Canaan; and that Joseph will be with him when he dies. He allayed all of Jacob's fears and promised him everything Jacob would want. But notice that God's assurances came after Jacob worshipped God and offered sacrifices. He always wants us to acknowledge Him and His sovereignty first. Priorities. Jacob knew that God was the Almighty -- God had revealed Himself many times before to Jacob. He was not about to make this big a change in his life without bowing before the Master first. And God rewards his faithfulness by giving him a peace.

I also love the reunion between Joseph and Jacob. If you have seen any "Joseph" movie, this is such a dramatic, emotional scene. Every time I see it, I think of Jesus welcoming us into heaven. Jesus has left our home here and gone to another place to prepare a new home. When we leave this home, we will be welcomed into our new one with open arms and held with an amazing embrace. The difference is that the ones who had been "detestable" in their previous home, are now right where they belong and given a place of honor beside the king.

Further Thoughts:

1. No matter what is happening in our lives -- big changes or small ones -- God wants us to seek Him in worship. Do you need to spend some time with the Father? If you go to Him, He will always show up.
   
2. Look for other passages where God requires worship before His assurances.
   
3. Look up the phrase, "aliens and strangers" in the concordance. What is that referring to? How do you see that as true?
   
4. Where is our true home? Support with Scripture.
   

Joseph: Genesis 43:1-45:28 "True Motivation"

Read Genesis 43:1-45:28.

"Why have you repaid good with evil?" NIV

Joseph starts here really messing with his brothers. What is the reason? Is he exacting revenge on his brothers? Is he testing them to see if they have grown in integrity, humility, and love? Is he proving to them the power he has gained in spite of their actions? Is God directing Joseph to put his brothers through these steps? We can't really know the answer to any of these questions, but we can see the outcome. 

Joseph's brothers were humbled; they had become men of integrity; and they loved their father enough to not cause him grief a second time. The tests that Joseph puts his brothers through demonstrate all these traits. It also proves to them, once he has revealed himself, that he is trustworthy to take care of the whole family in Egypt. 

In the end, Joseph does not blame his brothers, but gives God all the honor and glory. What an amazing example of forgiveness. Did the brothers sin against Joseph? Yes. But with time and perspective, Joseph was able to see that God had planned it all along. Even with the bad times that Joseph had to go through, God was building his character. He also transformed the brothers through the pain of their guilt to where they even recognized punishment for their crime 20 years later. And most importantly, God made a way for the Hebrew children to immigrate to Egypt.

Could God have gotten Joseph and the Hebrews to Egypt another way? Of course He could. But He used the brother's jealousy and sin to make something good happen. God's transforming power. He's the only one who can take something horrible and painful and change it for our good and for His glory. How often when we have bad things happen to us do we sit around and moan and groan or become angry with others and with God. Some people will even walk away from the God because of difficulty casting the blame His way as they slam the door. The truth is that we must continue to trust God not just in the good times, but in the midst of trouble as well. As believers, we know there is a reason for everything, and God will make good what He will have to be done. We just see a microscopic view of history; God sees the whole picture -- past, present, and future. What He has designed will come about. We just have to choose if we will be participants in the transformation and with what kind of attitude we will maintain. 

Further Thoughts: 

1. Who else in the Bible had to suffer because of their own sin or someone else's sin? 
   
2. Are you angry at someone or even at God because of troubles in your life? If you are, you're not alone, and you might as well own up to your anger. You're not hiding your anger from God. But know that He loves you, understands your pain and hurts with you. He will never leave you but walk the road with you. His love is greater for you than you can ever imagine and His greater good will win out in the end.
   
3. Find Scripture that supports the fact that God is in control. What about His character shows that too us, too?

Joseph: Genesis 42:1-38 "Perspectives"

Read Genesis 42:1-38.

"So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground." NIV

This passage presents some very interesting sociological aspects. We have three groups at work here -- Joseph, the brothers, and Jacob. Each with their own perspective and response to the situation and to the others involved.

The Brothers: I find it very interesting that the brothers immediately take the governor's accusations of them being spies and the harsh treatment they received as punishment by God because of how they treated Joseph. They see this as their judgment day. You have to remember that this is taking place 20 years after Joseph was sold into slavery. But that action is the sin they associate with an accounting and thus are eager to comply.

Jacob: Jacob, on the other hand, blames the brothers for everything. He has not led the most exemplary life, yet does not set any blame on himself, but on his sons. Where is personal responsibility? To add to it, Jacob shows more concern for Benjamin than the other sons whose lives are in jeopardy.

Joseph: What are Joseph's motives here? Revenge? Settling the score? Or a true test of his brothers' character? I think some anger was probably involved. That's probably one of the reasons Joseph left them in the prison for three days -- time for him to cool off. He is softer on them after the three days. Initially he said that all of them would stay in prison and one go back for Benjamin. Then he changes to one stay and all the others go back with the grain needed for their families and all their silver.

There is a fourth person of note here -- Reuben. In Joseph's presence Reuben basically says to his brothers, "I told you so." But then includes himself in the punishment that must be received. He says, "Now we must give an accounting for his blood." Even though Reuben had told them not to hurt Joseph and had not even been there when they sold him, Reuben takes equal responsibility for the crime and thus know he will receive equal punishment.

Reuben is also the one to entrust his own two sons' lives in Jacob's hands if he is unsuccessful in bringing Benjamin safely home. He demonstrates a like character with Joseph by his actions -- a man of responsibility and integrity.

Further Thoughts:

1. Where do our motivations come from? How do we prepare ourselves to make right decisions in tough situations? Support with Scripture.
2. Do you have trouble taking personal responsibility for bad situations? Why? What makes people place blame on everyone else but themselves?
3. Define integrity.
4. Define humility.
5. Define imperfection.

Joseph: Genesis 41:41-57 "A Microcosm of Christianity"

Read Genesis 41:41-57.

"He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command and men shouted before him, 'Make way!'" NIV

The parallels between Joseph's life at this point and the Christian life are amazing. I've never really seen them before.

First of all, Joseph had been in prison, destitute. Although on the surface, Joseph was unjustly imprisoned, in reality, his prison experience could have been a result of is pride. His pride needed to be eradicated from his DNA. In the same way, our sin places us in a prison of our own making. We desperately need someone to rescue us from the sin and punishment we have brought upon ourselves.

When Joseph is taken out of the dungeon, the king (Pharaoh) gives him a place of honor second only to himself. He has rule over the land to do Pharaoh's business. God has likewise given us His Holy Spirit. With the power of the Holy Spirit working through us, we are unstoppable. Unfortunately, too many times, Christians never tap into that power that God has so freely given us. Whether through timidity, weakness, or doubt, we too often abdicate the authority we have been given and let the enemy have his hand. If we'd only see the power at our fingertips, we could rule the land.

Our land is in a famine -- a spiritual one. And if we'd simply reveal to the world the abundance that we have to share, they'd come flocking to the believers for a share of the Truth. God desires to bless in tremendous ways His children, we simply must be shining in the glory of His Truth through our love for others so people can find the beacon of rescue when they realize their need.

Further Thoughts:

1. Are there other parallels you see? 
   
2. What do we learn about Joseph based on the names he gave his sons?
   
3. Have you accepted the power of the Holy Spirit that God has promised us? If not, why?
   
4. What New Testament Scripture supports the fact that the Holy Spirit empowers the believer?
   

Joseph: Genesis 41:1-40 "By Leaps and Bounds"

Read Genesis 41:1-40.

"Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." NIV

Wow, what an amazing passage. We go from outlandish, God-given dreams to the rise of Joseph as the second in the land of Egypt. And Joseph's position hinged upon those dreams.

I've never really put much in store in dreams. They are crazy, mixed up, morphing mysteries that never seem to be any part of reality whatsoever. Last night I dreamt I had a bed and breakfast. I pray that wasn't a sign from God because based on the state of my spare bedroom, that's just not happening anytime soon. But for some reason, the chief baker, cupbearer, and Pharaoh all knew they were being given a message and that they needed to understand it.

I find it interesting that God gave the dreams to non-believers in Him. We as believers are always yearning to hear a message from the Father. We pray for His direction through His Word, prayer, other believers, even dreams. So when three people who aren't followers of the one true God receive a personal message, jealousy can rise. But God specifically chose these people to accomplish His purposes through Joseph. Which makes sense after we see the whole picture. God can use believer and non-believer alike to do what He needs to do. In this case He needed people high up in Egypt's rule to get Joseph to the position he needed to be in to do what God needed done.

How often do we live in jealousy because it appears that non-believers are receiving God's blessings more than us? How often do we grumble about the position we are in because we believe we should have a better, more influential, maybe more public assignment? Joseph doesn't seem to possess either of these sins in his life. He receives the fact that they have had a dream, that God is the only One who interprets dreams, and that he is to be the one to share the interpretation and give God the credit. It's all very black and white in Joseph's mind.

Then Joseph seems to take in stride that he just went from a purchased foreign slave to the second in command in the land. I know what I'd be thinking....that just doesn't happen! But with God, anything is possible. I am especially such a realist. Kind of strange for someone who has a really strong faith gifting. But I just expect God to work in the natural world He has created and in the realm where He has placed me. To make things happen that include me outside of either of those realities is hard for me to imagine -- not that He can't, but that He would. But I would hope that if God does so act in my life, that I would have the humility of Joseph to give God all the glory and do as He has commanded to accomplish His purposes -- ones that go way beyond anything to do with me.

A new day is coming for Joseph. We've learned a lot from him in how he handled the dredges of life and circumstances. It will be interesting to see how he handles the prosperity.

Further Thoughts:

1. Do you possess the humility needed for God to use you? Why or why not?
2. How has the enemy encouraged a society of control freaks? What has contributed to this in our history as a people/nation?
3. What kind of person does God want to use? How do we become that person? Support with Scripture.

Joseph: Genesis 40:1-41:1 "Serving in the Dungeon"

Read Genesis 40:1-41:1.

“The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he attended them.” NIV

Joseph is still in prison when the king’s cupbearer and baker are put in the same place, and Joseph is given the task to take care of them. After they had been there a while, they each have a dream the same night and want someone to interpret it. Joseph says only God can and listens to their dreams. In three days the cupbearer will be restored to his position, and the baker will be executed. All Joseph asks for his help with the interpretations is that the baker will remember him and help to get his release. But the baker forgot him.

We have several lessons we can glean from this passage. One, God will still give us jobs to do in places we never expected to be used. Joseph did not choose or deserve to be in prison let alone in Egypt. These things had all been unjustly imposed upon him. Joseph even pleads this case to the cupbearer. Yet, even under these conditions, God’s plan was at work, and He needed Joseph’s obedience. Joseph could have really shut down by this point – in despondency, depression, or anger at God. But instead, he remains faithful to his true Master and continues to serve Him no matter where he is or why he is there.

Secondly, Joseph gives God the glory. He doesn’t claim the ability to interpret dreams so he will get the praise. He gives all the credit to God. Joseph knows where the power comes from even if he may feel powerlessly abandoned by the Powerful. True commitment will eventually override feelings of doubt every time. Trials are going to come, but we must stand firm on the foundation of God’s faithfulness.

No matter how much we serve, sometimes we will be forgotten by the people we are serving. Joseph only asked the cupbearer to remember him when he receives back his official position. Maybe he could help out the man who helped him. But the cupbearer forgot him until two years later. Can you just imagine Joseph sitting day after day in that dungeon for two years wondering if today will be the day he is remembered.

No matter what circumstances we face, no matter how much we serve without recognition, no matter how often we are forgotten by those we serve, the Father never forgets us. In what looks like a hopeless situation God truly is still in control. He sees Joseph’s pain and hurts with him. But the greater good that will come out of this – for Joseph and for the Hebrew nation outweighs the temporary discomfort Joseph must endure. And meanwhile, God is building on Joseph’s character in ways that he will need later.

Further Thoughts:

1. Who else saw God's activity in the dark times?
2. Read the story of Baruch. How is he like Joseph here?
3. Do you have trouble ministering to others through your own dark times? Continue to be faithful. He will be.
4. Are you in a character-building time of your life. Hang on with both hands to the fact that God is still in control.

Joseph: Genesis 39:20-23 "Integrity in Trials"

Read Genesis 39:20-23.

"... the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did." NIV

So here is where I meant yesterday that God is still taking care of Joseph no matter what physical circumstances he is facing. Let's recap -- sold into slavery by his brothers, respected by owner and given authority in the household, falsely accused of seducing owner's wife, thrown into prison, now has respect and responsibility given to him by the prison warden. 

So what kind of person comes out of one situation into a worse situation into an even worse situation and still God is able to use him and work through him? Joseph had been the honored son and thus suffered horrible abuse from his brothers. He is sold into slavery, but has the fortitude to rise above his situation to make a name of respect for himself. God trusts Joseph and blesses him with prosperity even as a slave. Joseph is a just and upright man and still gets thrown into prison. But even in the midst of the horrendous injustice of his punishment, he is a man God wants to bless. I would imagine if Joseph changed to a bitter soul bemoaning the injustices of his life, God couldn't have used and blessed him. So what makes Joseph different? Integrity.

Joseph had long ago chosen to follow the God of his fathers and wasn't about to let circumstances change that. And not just any circumstances -- these are horrible life situations that Joseph did not earn or deserve. Evil was done to him, consequences had to be suffered, but Joseph remained true to who he was through it all. Amazing.

We start moaning and grumbling if we have a bad day. The car breaks down, the boss yells, the kids are screaming, a project goes south and we fall apart. We get stuck in the mindset of if I work hard, then God will bless me. But that isn't how God works. He looks for the heart. In Joseph's life, the blessing didn't come in the way we would normally expect it. Slavery and prison aren't our first choices of blessing. But God's ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts greater than ours. Joseph maintained his integrity under extreme circumstances, God blessed his work, and at the same time was refining Joseph's character. Never underestimate how God can use tough circumstances in our life to mold us into the person He needs us to be. How we go through those tough times is what really shows our level of devotion to and trust in Him.

Lord, blind my eyes to the circumstances and help me just to see You and the opportunities You have for me.

Further Thoughts:

1. Who else in Scripture stood firm on their commitment rather than their circumstance?
   
2. Are your circumstances blinding you right now to the possibility of God's blessings? What do you need to do about it?
   
3. Psalm 23 could easily have been written by Joseph. Read through it and look for the integrity needed to remain faithful to the Lord in difficult situations.

Joseph: Genesis 39:1- 20 "Staying True"

Read Genesis 39:1-20.

"The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered...." NIV

I have skipped over chapter 38 because it was a story that didn't include Joseph. We find Joseph now in Egypt living as a slave to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard. There are two aspects of Joseph's time here in this house that stand out: purity and prosperity.

Purity: Joseph was noticed by Potiphar's wife and she wanted him. But Joseph stood his ground and remained committed to God's laws rather than human desires. He calls sleeping with her "a wicked thing" and "a sin against God." I'm sure Joseph had needs and desires like any young man, but he had integrity that was greater. He was able to see the big consequences over the small pleasures. Wow, how many less problems would we have in our life if we could stay committed to a principle that the Lord has put in place for our protection and good? See the big consequences over the small pleasures.

Prosperity: Joseph had his position in Potiphar's house only because Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered in everything he did. Potiphar was no idiot. This may be his slave, but if he has hands of gold, let him control everything Potiphar owns and make it multiply. 

Unfortunately, the enemy will throw people into our pathway that will try to stop us from doing what God has called us to do. They will lie, cheat, and steal to hinder our progress. And sometimes, in particular situations, they will succeed. Does that mean that we are no longer in the middle of God's plan? Not in Joseph's situation. Joseph had helped his slave owner become a wealthier man and had been falsely accused of seducing Potiphar's wife. But God had something more planned for Joseph even though as we see tomorrow the path to getting there seems rather grim.

Further Thoughts:

1. What is integrity? 
   
2. What does Scripture say about sexual purity?
   
3. Does your path right now seem to be a strange way to receive God's blessing? If you are following His calling and direction, then be patient, He's not done with you yet. God's big picture view clarifies the reasons beyond what we can see while stuck in the details.
   

Joseph: Genesis 37:5-36 "Black Hearts"

Read Genesis 37:5-36.

"his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to, the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt." NIV

This is a very hard passage to read and glean from. First we have a 17-year-old young man who is blessed by God with visions but not very discerning in who to tell them to. He further alienates himself from his brothers by telling them of the dream that shows they will be subject to him -- twice! Joseph was obviously naive and had a lot of growing up to do in dealing with people.

Then you have the brothers -- all but Reuben -- who want to do bodily harm to Joseph. They consider murder, abandonment, and settle on selling him into slavery. Brothers with that much hatred in their hearts changed Joseph's life forever. The evil that is so prevalent in these young men's hearts must be completely displayed now to contrast with the fact that later, we will see them become the heads of the twelve tribes of Judah. I suppose to truly understand the amazing transformation that God can do in people's hearts, we must be exposed to the black ugliness of sin. And their hearts couldn't have been any uglier.

There are no hopeless causes, no sin that is beyond God's forgiving. His grace is deep; His mercy reaches wide. We can be assured of His love and forgiveness of our sins when we see such transformations occur. But what about Joseph? God hasn't abandoned him as we will see. He's just preparing Joseph's character for a position that only he can fill to complete God's plans.

Further Thoughts:

1. What constitutes evil?
   
2. Why is there evil in the world? Support with Scripture.
   
3. How are men/women able to do evil acts? Why does God allow it? Support with Scripture.
   
4. How are we as believers to respond to the evil around us?
   

Joseph: Genesis 37:1-4 "Poor Parenting?"

Read Genesis 37:1-4.

"Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons...." NIV

By now you should know that Jacob, Joseph's father had two wives and two concubines. If you don't know that story, it's worth reading. A lot is revealed about Jacob's character and reasons for his actions just based on how he got his wives and children. (Genesis 29-30).

So since Rachel was always Jacob's first love, and she had such a difficult time bearing him children, and that Rachel dies so early in their marriage, Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. Or maybe Jacob saw a glimpse of who Joseph would be as a man through his character. For whatever reason, Jacob showed Joseph favoritism and he didn't bother to try to hide it from the other sons either. The gift of a colorful, ornamented, fancy robe is not exactly subtle adoration. And that very act of favoritism lead Joseph down a very difficult path in his life. 

I can't imagine favoring one of my children over another. I have so much love and admiration for each of them that it just oozes out of my pores. Now I even have room to love my son-in-law with the same capacity. I can appreciate each of them for their unique gifts and talents, quirks, and idiosyncrasies. They each have their own love language and dreams that I can celebrate with them. Placing one over the other would just diminish the value I have for the others. I have four #1 children in my life, and I thank God every day for each of them.

Although damage was done with Jacob's actions and attitude, we will see later how God used the trials that came to strengthen Joseph and fulfill God's plan.

Further Thoughts:

1. Find Scripture on child rearing. 
   
2. How did Jesus treat children?
   
3. Why did Jacob need the wisdom of Ephesians 6:4?
   
4. What parts of loving described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 did Jacob struggle with?
   
5. What can we learn about parenting from Jacob?
   
6. What harm can we cause in showing favoritism?

Guess this quote describes Jacob for us today. 

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to serve as a horrible warning." Catherine Aird

Joseph: Genesis 37-50

After several days of thinking about this, I've decided to take a different approach and instead of studying a book, I'll study a person. I've also thought for some time I need to do more in the Old Testament. After all, there are valuable lessons to be learned from our elders.

So for today, look over Genesis 37-50 to get an overall picture of Joseph's life. Look back at what has led up to Joseph's life. Read about his father, Jacob. Who was he? Where did they live? Why did they live there? What were some life lessons that Jacob went through that made him the parent he was? (Sorry, the parent's lives do have an affect on the child. Know you've been trying to avoid facing that, but it's true -- for the good and the ill.)

We'll get started tomorrow on chapter by chapter.