Joseph's Story from Genesis

1. THE BIG PICTURE
Genesis 37:5-8,26-28; 50:15-21
By John R Wible
November 1, 2013
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2. The Big Picture
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3. The Big Picture (Literally)
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4. What’s the Point?
God is at work even in the midst of
conflict.
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5. Conflict
• Can feel draining, can feel like it is
keeping us from something meaningful
• God can use whatever conflict to bring
meaningful results in our lives.
• Conflict can lead to resolution, which can
lead to stronger relationships.
• God can strengthen our faith and
endurance through conflict.
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6. The Bible Passage
• Genesis 37:5-8,26-28; 50:15-21
• Joseph’s life from teenage to VicePharoah
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7. The Setting
• Favoritism, hatred, and envy defined the
family of Jacob.
• Brothers hated Joseph wanting to kill him.
• Instead they profited from their hatred.
• Done with their brother, later, they found
themselves standing before him in Egypt.
• He forgave them because he saw that God
was at work through all that transpired.
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8. The Bigger Picture
• Israel’s role as the people of promise was
being jeopardized by their acceptance of
the loose moral standards of the native
Canaanites.
– Incest, Reuben and his father’s wife
– Judah’s marriage to a Canaanite, incest
• God moved them away to Egypt through
Joseph’s story
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9. A Silver Lining
• When have you seen the silver lining in a
difficult situation?
• When did you figure out that it was, in
fact, a silver lining?
• How did you react to the initial incident
and then to the Big Picture?
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10. Focus
• We’re not going to focus on
anyone’s dysfunctional family.
• We’re going to focus on the work of God
in the midst of whatever dysfunction or
conflict we are facing.
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11. What Have We Learned?
Four Sessions of resolving conflict
• Conflicts can arise because of different
priorities
• It’s Not about ME!
• Sometimes you need to stand down
• Never compromise on the Bible
• Sometimes you have to “step in”
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12. I Have a Dream
Read: Genesis 37:5-8
• Joseph had a dream that all the sheaves
bowed down to him.
• Perhaps he should have kept it to
himself
• Page 151 Question # 2?
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13. Enough Blame to Go Around
• What was Joseph’s heritage of
deception?
• Who all was to blame?
– Joseph
– The Brothers
– Jacob
– Rachael
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14. Bad Blood, Maybe?
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Read Genesis 37:26-28
What happened here? See page 152.
How did the brothers justify themselves?
How does that differ from the teachings
of Jesus?
• How has a conflict shaped your life?
• What does the quote on p. 156 mean?
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15. Then What HaPPened?
• What has happened here? Joseph was:
– Priced
– Potiphar
– Prison
– Phantasies
– Prime Minister
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16. Drama in Egypt
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17. Drama in Egypt
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Read Genesis 50:15-21.
Q: Page 155 # 4?
Joseph saw the big picture.
How did God use event’s in Joseph’s life
to impact positively Joseph, his family,
the people of Egypt, all of the region?
• How does it affect us today?
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18. Your “Big Picture”
• Look at “The Big Picture” on page 148 of
the BOOK:
• Someone who hurt you is now asking to
be a part of your life again, how might
God be at work in this?
• How might God be at work in a current
conflict in your life?
• How can we encourage each other?
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19. Live It Out
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•
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Conflict can be draining, God can use it.
Conflict can lead to resolution.
Resolution can enhance relationships.
God strengthens faith and endurance.
What are you going to do about it?
– Trust God?
– Forgive someone?
– Call someone?
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20. I Wonder . . .
• Could God be at work in your conflict,
preparing a better story for you?
• That’s far better than any silver lining.”
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21. Let’s Pray About it!
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