Spring 2005          FEB 22/24th

'LIVING THE GOOD LIFE' - the life of Joseph        GENESIS 37- 50

(3) GOODNESS PERSISTED IN and PROSPERING : GENESIS 39.19-41.57

A lot of verses to study this week, so begin with a thoughtful read of the whole section. We trace Joseph's rise from prisoner to Prime Minister!

1. JOSEPH THE PRISONER: 39.19-41.40

(a) 39.19 - 40.23: Joseph and the dreams of the prisoners

• Joseph is thrown into prison. How long for? (cf. 41.2)
• What indications are there in this section of Joseph's faithfulness and fortitude? What indications of his faith? How confident was Joseph in God?
• How hard is it to maintain these things in the face of the difficulties that Joseph experienced?
• Bitter experiences can tend to shut us in on ourselves. What indication is there here of Joseph's surprising concern for others?
• Joseph and the prisoners' dreams. When Joseph leamt about the butler's and baker's dreams, what could his attitude so easily have been? (Think of his own dreams, and what they seemed to promise, and his own present experience!) What was his attitude? What do you make of the two dreams?
• What encouragement did the whole experience of the butler and baker and their dreams have for Joseph and his faith? And what happened that could have posed a further set back for his faith? (cf 40.23)
• God's hand on Joseph. Joseph (though he little guessed it) is on a journey to high places! What signs do you see in these verses of God's overruling providence at work in Joseph's life - even in the midst of his trauma? (eg. What prison does he end up in? What master bought him? Why are these things significant?)

(b) 40.23 - 41.41 : Joseph and the dreams of Pharaoh

• How does Joseph's continued unshaken faith continue to shine out in this chapter? What impression do you get of how important and central God was to Joseph's whole life and thought?
• How surprising do you find it that his faith should still be so strong?
• What signs are there in this chapter of Joseph's wisdom? From where does his wisdom come? What does Pharaoh think about this?
• The Holy Spirit is active in the lives of others in the Old Testament too.Who can you think of? What gifts and abilities did he give them?

2. JOSEPH THE PRIME MINISTER : 41.41-57

• Talk about Joseph's activities and life as Prime Minister. We've seen Joseph's faith in adversity; what of it in prosperity? How does his humble faith still shine out?
• What dangers can prosperity pose to faith? (see Deuteronomy 8.10-18)
• Which do you think poses a greater danger to faith: adversity or prosperity?
• To what or to whom do you attribute this amazing turnabout in fortune for Joseph? What part has Joseph played, and what part has God played?

NOTE:  Next group night we have four long chapters to study - Genesis 42-45 - so it would help greatly for everyone to read these through at home before coming to the group!