Joseph & His Brothers: Pride & Prejudice
Genesis 37 - 38
We often see how children tend to duplicate the weaknesses as well as the strengths of their parents. This trait is as evident in Old Testament families as it is today.
GROUP DISCUSSION. What strengths and weaknesses have you experienced in your own family?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. How have the strengths and weaknesses of your family affected you?
Jacob suffered as a boy from parental favoritism. Now we see how he perpetuates this practice in his relationship with Joseph - with disastrous results. Read Genesis 37.
1. How would you describe family relationships at the outset of the story (37:1-4)?
2. What kind of boy does Joseph appear to be?
3. In 37:5-11 how are the symbols in Joseph's two dreams interpreted by his family?
4. What are the varied reactions of Joseph's brothers when they see him coming (37:12-22)?
5. How do you think Joseph feels as he overhears their conversation (37:23-27)?
6. What plan does Judah propose, and why does it appeal to his brothers (37:25-28)?
7. What various motives do you see in the way the brothers report the news of Joseph's disappearance to their father (37:29-35)?
8. To what extent are you involved in a family situation with some of these elements, and what can you do to relieve the tension?
9. Read Genesis 38. When Judah finds his lineage in jeopardy in spite of having three sons, what does he do about it (38:1-11)?
10. What strategy does Tamar work out to establish her status as matriarch of Judah's line (38:12-30)?
11. In what ways today do you see God working his purposes for good in spite of evil and tragedy?
12. How can these chapters encourage us to trust God in the midst of difficult circumstances?
Thank God for his long view in working out his plans in spite of our sins and failures.
Now or Later
Look at the parallels in the deceptions of Isaac by Jacob and of Jacob by his sons, and the results.
We often see how children tend to duplicate the weaknesses as well as the strengths of their parents. This trait is as evident in Old Testament families as it is today.
GROUP DISCUSSION. What strengths and weaknesses have you experienced in your own family?
PERSONAL REFLECTION. How have the strengths and weaknesses of your family affected you?
Jacob suffered as a boy from parental favoritism. Now we see how he perpetuates this practice in his relationship with Joseph - with disastrous results. Read Genesis 37.
1. How would you describe family relationships at the outset of the story (37:1-4)?
2. What kind of boy does Joseph appear to be?
3. In 37:5-11 how are the symbols in Joseph's two dreams interpreted by his family?
4. What are the varied reactions of Joseph's brothers when they see him coming (37:12-22)?
5. How do you think Joseph feels as he overhears their conversation (37:23-27)?
6. What plan does Judah propose, and why does it appeal to his brothers (37:25-28)?
7. What various motives do you see in the way the brothers report the news of Joseph's disappearance to their father (37:29-35)?
8. To what extent are you involved in a family situation with some of these elements, and what can you do to relieve the tension?
9. Read Genesis 38. When Judah finds his lineage in jeopardy in spite of having three sons, what does he do about it (38:1-11)?
10. What strategy does Tamar work out to establish her status as matriarch of Judah's line (38:12-30)?
11. In what ways today do you see God working his purposes for good in spite of evil and tragedy?
12. How can these chapters encourage us to trust God in the midst of difficult circumstances?
Thank God for his long view in working out his plans in spite of our sins and failures.
Now or Later
Look at the parallels in the deceptions of Isaac by Jacob and of Jacob by his sons, and the results.
posted by Christinewjc at
5:12 PM
3 Comments:
Joseph & His Brothers: Pride & Prejudice
Genesis 37 - 38
We often see how children tend to duplicate the weaknesses as well as the strengths of their parents. This trait is as evident in Old Testament families as it is today.
GROUP DISCUSSION. What strengths and weaknesses have you experienced in your own family?
Weaknesses: Sibling rivalry; the appearance of child favoritism; doing too much for the children; overprotectedness.
Strengths: Family love for Christ and each other; always there for each other; help in good and bad times; always safe and welcome at home; family priority in life; encourage each other etc.
PERSONAL REFLECTION. How have the strengths and weaknesses of your family affected you?
The weaknesses have taught me that there is always room for improvement. Also, I seek ways to avoid confrontations/conflicts in the future by learning from former conflicts.
Jacob suffered as a boy from parental favoritism. Now we see how he perpetuates this practice in his relationship with Joseph - with disastrous results. Read Genesis 37.
1. How would you describe family relationships at the outset of the story (37:1-4)?
The brothers were very jealous of Israel's favoritism towards Joseph. It was so bad that they hated him and couldn't speak well towards him.
2. What kind of boy does Joseph appear to be?
He was a tattle tale against his brothers. Perhaps he knew he was his father's favorite because of the special robe given to him.
3. In 37:5-11 how are the symbols in Joseph's two dreams interpreted by his family?
That Joseph would rule over the brothers and this made them hate him even more. Joseph was a braggart, and the second dream made it appear that he would expect to rule over even his parents and they would also bow down to him.
4. What are the varied reactions of Joseph's brothers when they see him coming (37:12-22)?
When they saw Joseph, they plotted to kill him. They called him a "dreamer" and wanted to throw him into a cistern then lie about how he died (wild animals devoured him).
5. How do you think Joseph feels as he overhears their conversation (37:23-27)?
I'm sure that he realized how much they hated him. Hearing that they planned to kill him and then decided to sell him into slavery made him realize that even though he was their brother, they were still choosing a "lesser of two evils" by letting him live. It was still very wrong.
6. What plan does Judah propose, and why does it appeal to his brothers (37:25-28)?
They sold him into slavery because they didn't want the blood of Joseph on their own hands.
7. What various motives do you see in the way the brothers report the news of Joseph's disappearance to their father (37:29-35)?
They wanted to cover their evil actions so they deceived Israel into believing that Joseph was dead. They dipped Joseph's robe in goat blood and claimed it was Joseph's. They gave the robe to Israel to let him decide if the robe was Joseph's or not.
8. To what extent are you involved in a family situation with some of these elements, and what can you do to relieve the tension?
Perceived sibling favoritism can cause damage for a lifetime. I have seen this happen with my sister. I have seen my mom not treat her right, either.
9. Read Genesis 38. When Judah finds his lineage in jeopardy in spite of having three sons, what does he do about it (38:1-11)?
He told his daughter-in-law Tamar to live as a widow in her father's house until his third son, Shelah grows up.
10. What strategy does Tamar work out to establish her status as matriarch of Judah's line (38:12-30)?
Disguised herself as a prostitute and convinced Judah to sleep with her and give her his seal, cord and staff as a pledge. He also promised her a young goat from his flock. Both had sinned. Tamar with her deception and Judah because of his lust.
11. In what ways today do you see God working his purposes for good in spite of evil and tragedy?
God can take any tragedy and turn it for good in the long run according to his purposes. God's ultimate Will will be done despite the evil and sinful actions that humans do.
12. How can these chapters encourage us to trust God in the midst of difficult circumstances?
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Col 1:8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Thank God for his long view in working out his plans in spite of our sins and failures.
Now or Later
Look at the parallels in the deceptions of Isaac by Jacob and of Jacob by his sons, and the results.
The old saying, "like father like son" comes to mind. I think that it is SO IMPORTANT for fathers to set a good example for their sons in their own actions and behaviors. Faithfulness to family obligations includes not only teaching godly ways and morality to children, but also living up to those values and ethics as parents!
By
Christinewjc, at 6:58 PM
i have been following your study with my cell group in the uk
i have found them enjoyable
but do you find the question in this studies strange
By
barry b, at 9:05 PM
bj -
What do you find strange about the questions? I thought that they were appropriate. Several of them help lead us as to why Joseph's brothers were against him, namely, pride, prejudice and jealousy.
By
Christinewjc, at 7:05 AM
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