Genesis 40:1-15 Joseph, now in prison, encounters two high government officials who are thrown into prison with him. Why dose the narrative of this event stress that they were in prison "with" Joseph? How does Joseph conduct himself in this encounter with these two men? How do we treat the people with whom we have apparently chance encounters? How do the dreams of these two men compare and contrast with the other dreams in the Joseph narrative? Though Joseph is faithful to God in all his misfortune and suffering, yet we see he really does suffer and really does seek release. What is the place of lament in the experience of the child of God? What did Joseph want in his pleas to the cupbearer? What if God had granted him his request at this time? Why does God wait to answer our pleas in our laments? (66 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Dreams, Cupbearer, Lament

Genesis 39:11-23 The account of Joseph's temptation at the hand of Potiphar's wife continues. This is a life altering day in Joseph's life. How was he prepared for this day? To what extent did his master’s wife go to destroy Joseph? Why does the passage emphasize her "words?" How can we destroy people with our words? Joseph finds himself once again in a pit. Why does the narrator emphasize that Joseph was in the jail? What was special about the kindnesses Joseph received from the Lord while in prison? Who was the "second Joseph?" (58 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Potiphar, Prison

Genesis 39:1-10 In this lesson we resume our study of the story of Joseph. Yet this is not so much the story of Joseph as it is the story of the covenant God of Abraham keeping His promises. What is the narrator of these events careful to remind us about as we read of Joseph's "success" in Egypt? What did the presence of God with Joseph look like? What might it look like in our lives? What was Joseph's "success?" What was the effect of Joseph's success on his master? What reasons did Joseph give for refusing the advances of Potiphar's wife? How did Joseph manage to resist her continual temptings? What would Joseph's failure have meant for Potiphar's household? How do Joseph and Judah compare? (66 min.)

Keywords Joseph, Egypt, Potiphar, Success

Genesis 38:20-30 A substantial review of the previous study about Judah and Tamar (since we've had a two week break). We discover even more about Judah's spiritual decline. Why did Judah send Hirah to reclaim his pledge? Why was Judah so quick to relinquish his claim on his pledge? What was so significant about Judah's willingness to abandon his staff to a stranger and a prostitute? To whom does God entrust the protection of such an important token? What is the importance of Judah's statement about Tamar that she was "more righteous than I?" What is the great change that overtakes Judah upon the revelation that he is the father of Tamar's twins? How does this passage disclose the marvelous grace of God to both Judah and Tamar? (51 min.)

Keywords Judah, Tamar, Scepter