We shall continue with
the study of the Book of Genesis this week.
(1) As the brothers “hurried” down to Egypt, Joseph would have ample of time to prepare for their return. How differently did he treat them this time? Why?
(2) How did the brother interpret Joseph’s intention? Why?
(3) How did the steward reply to their admission of having gotten the silver back in their sacks? Why did the steward mention their God and the God of their father? (“It is all right”, literally, is “shalom”.)
(4) I wonder if Simeon asked them, “What took you so long?” Do you think that he expected that his brothers would come back for him?
(5) Which dream of Joseph was now fulfilled?
(6) What was the first question asked by Joseph? Could he forget his father’s household after all? (41:51)
(7) Joseph left home at 17 and was elevated at age 30. The famine now lasted for roughly two years after the seven years of abundance. So Joseph was now approaching 40. How old might Benjamin be when Joseph left home?
(8) This is the second time Joseph withdrew to weep. When was the last time? What impression might you have of Joseph because of his weeping?
(9) The Egyptians knew very well that Joseph was a Hebrew. Why didn’t they change from despising the Hebrews because of him? How would you feel if you were Joseph?
(10) As much as they were discriminated against by the Egyptians, what good might it serve subsequently being that their descendants would dwell in Egypt for the next 430 years?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) Do you think the steward had an inkling of what was going on?
(2) Once out of jealousy, these brothers made lost the favorite son of their father in order to hurt both Joseph and Jacob. What lesson did Joseph want to teach them by detaining Benjamin?
(3) What role did Judah play in this pleading with Joseph?
(4) In what way was Judah a type of Christ?
(5) Through Judah’s pleading, how did Joseph make them face their previous crime against him and his father? (Judah mentioned “father” 14 times in his speech.)
(6) As much as Judah’s pleading was an emotional and touching one, what was the most important piece of information he left out of his account?
(7) Did they realize their sin yet? Have they truly repented yet at this point?
(8) If you were Joseph how might you confront them with their sin which they had yet to mention or acknowledge?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) Yesterday we considered the question “If you were Joseph how might you confront them with their sin which they had yet to mention or acknowledge?” Did Joseph confront their sin? Why or why not?
(2) Why did Joseph weep so loudly?
(3) Why did he repeat the question, asking if his father was still living?
(4) If you were the brothers, what thought might come to your mind and how would you feel when Joseph said, “I am…the one you sold into Egypt.”?
(5) What did Joseph say that enabled us to know that Joseph had indeed completely forgiven his brothers?
(6) What might be the key for him being able to completely forgive his brothers?
(7) What lessons can you learn about complete forgiveness?
(8) Is there anyone you still hold a grudge against?
(9) What might it take for you to completely forgive that person (or persons)?
(10) Which of Joseph’s word touches you the most? Why?
(11) Which of Joseph’s actions touches you the most? Why?
(12) Why did Joseph have to “convince” his father to come to Egypt?
(13) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) How did Pharaoh greet the news of the arrival of Joseph’s brothers?
(2) In what ways was he extra-gracious to them?
(3) Did you expect Pharaoh’s reaction? Why or why not?
(4) Joseph obviously treated Benjamin far better than the other brothers. Should he do so?
(5) Why did Joseph tell his brothers not to quarrel on the way? What might they be quarreling about?
(6) Do you think the brothers told Jacob how Joseph ended up in Egypt?
(7) Jacob suffered some 22 years of mourning for Joseph. Who really caused him this suffering?
(8) How would you describe the grace of God in such a dysfunctional family?
(9) What is the main message to you today?
(1) Although Jacob’s name has been changed to Israel, he is still called Jacob most of the time. Here in v. 1, he is called Israel. What might be the significance of his offering of sacrifices to the “God of his father Isaac” at Beersheba at this time? (See Gen. 21:33; 22:19; 26:32-33; 28:10.)
(2) Why did God choose to appear to Israel at this point?
a. What was his fear about?
b. What were the promises of God?
c. In particular, what was the significance of the promise to bring him back?
d. How much would these promises mean to him?
Note:
This was the last appearance of God to the patriarchs. The next time God appeared, He appeared to Moses.
(3) Reflect on the interchanging use of Israel and Jacob within the same verse of 46:5. What is the significant message behind this?
(4) It appears that going to Egypt always conveys a lack of faith for the Israelites in the Bible. What might be the historical and spiritual significance of this God-led journey into Egypt?
(5) If you care to add the numbers given in this passage together, you have to do some manipulations to actually arrive at the number 70. However, biblical scholars in general consider the Bible’s use of this number to portray a sense of completeness. What kinds of completeness might you think of were being portrayed by the entry into Egypt by Jacob’s family? (Note: Stephen, following the Septuagint, made a more literal count of 75 in Acts 7:14.)
(6) What is the essential message of today and how may you apply it in your life?
(1) Why did Jacob send Judah ahead of him? What might it signify?
(2) Joseph might not trust his brothers’ words about his father. Now that he saw him alive with his own eyes, what did he do? What kind of tears might they be for both of them?
(3) Since all shepherds were detestable to the Egyptians, why would Joseph tell Pharaoh about their occupation and why did he make sure the brothers would say the same before Pharaoh?
(4) What might be the advantage of making known their occupation and making sure that they would stay as such to Pharaoh and the Egyptians?
(5) What might be the reason that Pharaoh asked them about their occupation (which Joseph had already anticipated)? Was there any political reason?
(6) In their answer, how did the brothers try to put Pharaoh at ease?
(7) Do you know how long they ended up staying in Egypt? (See Exod. 12:40.)
(8) What is the main message to you today and how can you apply it to your life?
(1) Pharaoh was both the ruler and benefactor, yet Jacob blessed him. How does this reflect the Abrahamic Covenant of Genesis 12?
(2) In answer to Pharaoh’s question about his age, Jacob chose to use some rather unusual words. Reflect on the significance of each phrase below (and what they expressed):
a. He referred to his age as “the years of my pilgrimage”.
b. Though he had lived 130 years, he described them as “few".
c. He also spoke of them as “difficult”.
d. They did not equal the years of his fathers.
(3) Following
each of the thoughts expressed by Jacob, how would you answer the question, "How old are you?"?
(4) How different might your answer be from that of Jacob? How so?
(5) When Egypt was still in a severe famine and many Egyptians suffered greatly (“wasted away”), yet Joseph’s family was more than well taken care of.
a. What does this say about God’s providence and grace?
b. How might the average Egyptians look upon these “detestable” Hebrews?
(6) What is the main message to you today?