Home Group Study Questions // June 1st

History Session 18: Pain with Purpose

Genesis 39:20-21: “Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. But while Joseph was there in the prison, the Lord was with him; God showed him kindness and granted him favor…”

 

1. We face physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual pain in our lives. Discuss the negative and positive effects that those types of pain can have on our lives.

[Read Genesis 39:1-6, 19-23; 41:14-25, 39-42, 50-52]  

2. Joseph was sold into slavery, purchased by Potiphar, sent to prison, and then put in charge of Egypt. He was in slavery or prison for 13 years before he was put in charge of Egypt. Review Joseph’s 13 years of pain. What would that time have been like for him?

3. Genesis 39 begins with Joseph as a purchased slave of Potiphar. How does the image of his slavery stand in contrast to 39:2 where it says, “the Lord was with him” or verse 5 where it says, “the blessings of the Lord was on all that he had?”

4. How does Joseph’s integrity stand out amid the daily temptation that he was faced with? What is the connection between Joseph’s integrity and Genesis 39:9 which says, “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?”

5. In Genesis 39:20 Joseph is put into prison and verse 21says, “But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love.” How can we understand these contrasts? How do we see those contrasts in our own lives?

6. The prison is described as a pit in 41:14, yet verse 39:23 says, “the Lord was with him. And whatever he did, the Lord made it succeed.” Is it possible for the Lord to be with us during our worst nightmares? How can we see God’s blessings rather than curse Him for our situations?

7. In chapter 40, the baker and the cup bearer of Pharaoh are sent to prison, Joseph interprets their dreams, and the interpretation happens as Joseph said. Two years later Joseph is given a chance to interpret Pharaoh’s dream which ends his 13 years of slavery and imprisonment. How can we understand God’s perspective on time or waiting verses our perspective?

8. In 41:39 Pharaoh recognizes that “God has shown” Joseph what is to come. How can our lives point to what God has done rather than pointing to what we have done?

9. In 41:50-52 Joseph names his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim. What do those names mean?

10. How does the life of Joseph point to Jesus or reflect Jesus?