Spring 2005                          MARCH 8/10th

‘LIVING THE GOOD LIFE’ – The life of Joseph                       

(4)  Genesis 42 - 45 :         GOODNESS REWARDED

Our story works its way to a happy ending. After all the dark things in Joseph’s story we see this week that however bad and culpable actions have been, however much havoc and heartache they may have caused – that needn’t be the end of the story.

The past can be healed and redeemed and good can come out of even the worst situations.  But it is not automatic. 

It takes three things:

First, the presence of genuine remorse, sorrow and change of heart on the part of all who have done wrong.

Second, a big-hearted readiness to fully and freely forgive on the part of the wronged.

Thirdly, an implicit faith in a great God whose grace and providence can over rule the worst mistakes and evil to bring about our ultimate good. 

In this week’s passage we trace these three things.

Today we pick up our story at the point where Pharaoh’s dreams have been fulfilled and Joseph’s are about to be.  Egypt is loaded with food from 7 years of plenty; and the succeeding years of famine are about to bring Joseph’s brothers to Egypt for food.

Hopefully you read chapters 42-45 at home (as urged last time!!) Reread them to discuss....

I.   JOSEPH TESTS HIS BROTHERS

Joseph’s dreams are fulfilled as his brothers, not recognizing him, come and bow down to him – no less than four times (42.6   43.26   44.14   50.18)  Discuss together Joseph’s behaviour to his brothers and what important things we learn from it.

• Why does Joseph not reveal himself straight away to his brothers?  What important things must he learn from them and about them before he does?
• What various ‘tests’ does he put his brothers through? Examine these carefully: What does each ‘test’ seek to discover about their inner attitudes? 
• What is Joseph seeking to find in them? 
• How do the tests put his brothers in situations similar to those of the past?
• How do his brothers come through the tests? In what ways do they show:
           a genuine recognition of their wrong?
           a real remorse and regret?
           a real change of heart?
• How do Reuben and (particularly) Judah show up in the tests?
  (Remember the part Judah played in the maltreatment of Joseph)
•  
• 
  How essential to ‘forgiveness’ is the evidence of repentance?
•  

II.    JOSEPH FORGIVES HIS BROTHERS:

• What things in the story reveal the real nature of Joseph’s feelings towards his brothers behind his rather stern exterior and rough-dealing.
  See: 42.25   43.30   45.14 -15   46.29
• What does his weeping reveal?  When does he first weep and what causes it. How suggestive is this?  See:  42. 25;   43.27;  43.32 – 34; 45.21 -24; 47.11 – 12
• What is revealed by these verses?
• When did Joseph first reveal himself to his brothers? 45 1 - 3. What was it that led up to that crucial revelation and made it possible?   44.17 – 34.
• What does Judah’s attitude show?

III.   JOSEPH’S UNSHAKABLE FAITH IN GOOD PROVIDENCE OF GOD:

• Discuss how big a part Joseph’s faith in God played in bringing about the happy ending? consider especially Joseph’s words in: 45.4 -11 and 50. 15 – 21 (and 41.50 – 52)
• What important things do these words reveal?
• How does our faith in God affect our attitudes to people and situations?
• Exactly what would you say God’s part was in all this? Is it typical of God that, although totally unseen and unguessed by us, He is always at work behind the scenes working out His will and the good of His people?