God's Choice and Man's Evil

*Due to technical difficulties, this sermon was not recorded. We apologize for the inonvenience.*

God meant it for good: a study in the life of Joseph
Genesis 37
God’s choice and man’s evil
God uses man’s evil deeds to accomplish his plan to save

God is not mentioned once in this chapter. Can you think of any significance to this and if so, what is it?

1) Joseph’s brothers hate him because their father Jacob loves him more than all, 37:1-4.

2) Joseph’s brothers hate him more when he shares a dream that he will be over them, 37:5-8.

3) Joseph’s brothers envy him when he shares a dream that he will be over his family, 37:9-11.

Is there warning we can take from the brothers’ increasing hatred and jealousy? What is the purpose of Joseph’s dreams?

4) Jacob sends Joseph to see if his brothers are well and he finds them at Dothan, 37:12-17.

5) Joseph’s brothers plot to kill him but Reuben gets them to cast him into a pit, 37:18-24.

Can you think of “pits” you have been thrown into, or stumbled into, or climbed in of your own choice?

6) Judah gets the brothers to sell Joseph to Midianites who take him to Egypt, 37:25-28.

7) Jacob and his family suffer due to the deeds and deception of the brothers, 37:29-35.

How can God bless the nations through such a dysfunctional family? Have you ever had someone pretend compassion while at the same time unbeknownst to you they were doing evil against you?

8) Joseph was sold to an officer of Pharaoh in Egypt, 37:36.

Have you (or someone you know) ever been in the pit of despair, only to later discover that during the very time of your despair God was at work for good in that very situation? Describe a time you experienced the pain and grief of evil done to you, or terrible circumstances, only to discover that during that very time God was arranging for a greater good.
In the story so far, in what ways might Joseph prefigure Christ?