Joseph's Blessings
This was Joseph's father.
Genesis 37:3
Who is Israel? (this is the name God gave Jacob in Genesis 32:22-30)
Joseph brought this to his father about his brothers.
Genesis 37:2
What is "a bad report?"
Genesis 37:2 (NKJV)
2 This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father.
>>JOE KNOWS BETRAYAL<<
This is what his brothers did to him to betray him in Genesis 37:28.
What is sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver?
The Ishmaelites were the distant relatives of the Hebrews. They were the descendants of Abraham's son Ishmael who was cast out with his mother Hagar, a slave woman from Egypt. The Ishmaelites had ties to Egypt; Ishmael's mother Hagar was from there (Genesis 16:1) and she went to Egypt to get a wife for Ishmael there as well (Genesis 21:14-21). The Hebrews were sons of Abraham's son of promise, Isaac.
This brother helped Joseph to escape death at the hands of his own brothers.
Genesis 37:21
Who is Reuben?
He was the means of Joseph's escape from harm, but he would not be the last. Verse 24 says, "Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it." (Make note of Jonah 2:6 and Zechariah 9:11). Jesus does the same for all who believe and obey His Gospel.
Genesis 39:2
Genesis 39:3
Genesis 39:21
Genesis 39:23...
These verses record Joseph's greatest blessing.
What is the Lord was with him?
This could also be the greatest blessing for us today if we would allow God to hold the proper place in our hearts. He will be with us (Matthew 28:20) and provide an escape from eternal punishment.
Joseph had dreams with important meanings. However, this group of people interpreted his dreams before he ever gave an interpretation.
Genesis 37:5-8
Who is his brothers?
His brothers give the first interpretation of any of his recorded dreams before he ever does in verse 8. His brothers do eventually bow down to him in Genesis 42:6
>>JOE KNOWS TO GLORIFY GOD<<
Despite his many trials and hardships, this is who Joseph acknowledges.
Genesis 40:8
Genesis 41:16, 25, 28
Who is God?
In the incident of being pursued by Potiphar's wife (according to Genesis 39:10-12) this was his means of escape?
(Emphasis is placed on verse 12)
What is he "fled and ran outside."
This was an enactment of James 4:7 which says, "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
What is "How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
It is one thing to be an adulterer/adulteress and sin against someone and their spouse, but the greater wrong was sinning against God. Regardless of what the sin is, it is a blessing to have the attitude and mindset that Joseph had toward sin! Sin is spiritual suicide!
This was the raw intent of what Joseph's brothers wanted to do to him.
Genesis 37:20
What is "kill him and cast him into some pit?"
Despite their malicious intentions, was this the root of the problem? Were they just evil, "bad report-worthy" brothers or was there something else that was the root cause of pre-meditated fratricide? Read Genesis 4:5-6 and discover what can make a murderer out of anyone!
>>JOE KNOWS EARLY<<
Joseph knew how to do this from an early age.
Genesis 37:2
What is feeding the flock?
Joseph was only 17 when he was capable of feeding the flock with his brothers. However, Joseph was around 39 years old when he began to feed the flock of the people of the known world during the worldwide famine. (See Genesis 41:46-57 and Genesis 45:6)
Joseph's escape from prison came about because of this.
Genesis 39:21
What is "the Lord was with Joseph?"
With God present with Joseph, he was shown mercy and favor. We can receive mercy and favor from the Lord today through His Son Jesus Christ.
Joseph is a type of Christ (the antitype) in this way.
Genesis 45:7-8
What is God sent him...to save [their] lives by a great deliverance and made him lord of all his (Pharaoh's) house?
Jesus was sent by God the Father to save mankind by dying on the cross, being buried, and rising from the dead=A GREAT DELIVERANCE! (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4) On top of that, God gave Him all authority in heaven and on earth. (see Matthew 28:18)
This person was the true source of contention between Joseph and his brothers.
Genesis 37:4
Who is their father? (Jacob/Israel)?
Jacob played favorites with his sons which he should have never done. Thankfully God is not characterized this way! (See Acts 10:34-35)
>>JOE KNOWS FORGIVENESS<<
Joseph, having been wronged by his brothers when he was 17 years old, had an opportunity to get revenge on his brothers once his father Jacob (Israel) had passed away. Instead, Joseph said this...
Genesis 50:19-21
What is "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you mean evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive..."?
This was a long answer, but examine look closer. Joseph calmed their fears of him hating them and seeking vengeance (Genesis 50:15). He had already forgiven them, but more importantly, he proved his forgiving state of being by comforting them and reassuring them. Jesus taught us about this spiritual grace that we must possess in Matthew 6:12,14-15. Let's read it, learn it, and keep to it!
Joseph escaped something that plagues all of us in one way or another.
Genesis 45:1-8
**This one will take some thought!**
What is unforgiveness?
There was some bitterness in his heart, but he escaped it by forgiving his brothers and receiving them. To not forgive someone, is destroy the one who is not willing to forgive. Unforgiveness tears us apart from the inside out and the wounds can not be treated by any one but the one who should forgive. On the other hand, WE are unforgiven of our sins until we obey the Gospel. Forgiveness is always available, but we must be willing to do what is necessary to receive it. Hear (Romans 10:17), Believe (Hebrews 11:6), Repent (Acts 17:30), Confess (Romans 10:10), and Be Baptized (Mark 16:16, Acts 22:16, 1 Peter 3:21).